North American leaders to sign clean energy pact
The three North American leaders will announce an “historic” target Wednesday to have 50 per cent clean power across the continent.

thestar.com
June 27, 2016
By Bruce Campion-Smith

The three North American leaders will announce a “historic” target Wednesday to have 50 per cent clean power across the continent by 2025.

The environment and clean energy will top the agenda Wednesday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plays host to U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the North American Leaders’ Summit.

Both Ottawa and the White House confirmed Monday details of a pact between the three nations to set an “aggressive” target for North American green energy.

Canada already generates 81 per cent of its energy from clean sources. But an official in the Prime Minister’s Office framed the pledge as “important and historic” for its potential impact on the environment.

“This is the first time you’ve seen the three countries that represent such a tremendous share of the global output, global carbon footprint, agree on this specific target,” the official said.

And the target could represent an economic opportunity for Canada to export its clean energy and expertise to the U.S., where clean power makes up 32 per cent of all electricity generation, and Mexico, which stands at 18 per cent.

Continent-wide, clean energy generation stands at 37 per cent of all power.

“This can be characterized as moving together as a continent, as one block where we all agree that this is something that is absolutely crucial and that each country can play a role in helping the other one achieve that global target,” the official said in an interview.

A White House official said the new pact was a “significant milestone,” one that reflects the move to a clean energy economy in all three countries and the recognition of the economic benefits it provides.

“I think that is progress that is going to continue,” said Brian Deese, senior adviser to Obama.

In the U.S., Deese said the goal would be met through a combination of renewable energy, nuclear power, power plants using carbon capture and storage, and reducing waste through improved efficiencies.

“We believe this is an aggressive goal,” Deese told reporters during a briefing Wednesday.

He said the three nations would also be working to improve infrastructure to better share clean energy as well as adopting common standards for energy efficiency.

Both Ottawa and Washington also confirmed that Mexico will join the two nations in their agreement to reduce methane gas emissions by up to 45 per cent by 2025.

Deese said the two agreements will underpin what he called a “comprehensive partnership” among the three nations on the environment front.