Politique environnementale du Canada en 2025

Canada’s Environmental Policy in 2025

In 2025, Canada continues to face serious pressure — from citizens, scientists, Indigenous communities, and international partners — to act boldly on climate change. The country has set several long-term goals, and this year we can see concrete steps toward meeting them. I’ll present the official commitments, then examine what Canada is doing in 2025, and finally comment on the challenges.

Official Commitments

1. Emissions Reduction Targets

Canada has committed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels by 2035.

The country aims for net-zero emissions by 2050. Biodiversity and Protected Areas

Canada has pledged to protect 30% of its lands and waters by 2030.

There was also a goal to reach 25% by 2025.

1. Phase-downs and Regulation of Pollutants

Through the Kigali Amendment, Canada is committed to reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85% by 2036.

Other commitments include reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like methane, black carbon, etc.  

Actions in 2025

1. Strengthening Policy Frameworks & Regulation

The 2025-26 Departmental Plan from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) sets out various actions: accelerating cleaner infrastructures, collecting better science and data, increasing resilience to extreme weather, modernizing environmental protection laws.

The Natural Climate Solutions: Canada has allocated large funding to plant 2 billion trees over 10 years, conserve forests, wetlands, peatlands etc.

1. Emissions from Government Operations

The federal government is working under its Greening Government Strategy to make operations net-zero by 2050. For example, reducing emissions from government fleet, buildings, optimizing energy use. There is also a target of a 40% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2025 vs 2005 levels for federal operations.

1. Carbon Pricing, Pollutant Reduction & Clean Electricity

Canada continues to enforce carbon pricing to make polluters pay, as part of its “no-free pollution” approach.

The government has been working on Clean Electricity Regulations, aiming for a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.

1. Adaptation & Resilience

Improved tools for weather warnings: in 2025, the WeatherCAN app has been updated to help Canadians respond better to extreme weather events.

Flood mapping: through the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, the federal government is improving mapping of flood zones, supporting provinces and cities to prepare for flooding.

1. Nature-based Solutions & Biodiversity

Supporting restoration and conservation via the Natural Climate Solutions Fund.

Expanding marine protected areas, national wildlife areas. For example, projects in Québec, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick to protect habitat.

Challenges & Criticisms

1. Balancing Fossil Fuel Production with Climate Goals
   While committing to reduce emissions, Canada has sometimes been criticised for continuing investments in oil and gas, pipelines etc., which may undermine its environmental goals. The tension between resource-rich provinces and federal climate policy remains strong.
2. Implementation & Accountability
   Setting targets is one thing, but ensuring that laws, regulations, funding, and provincial cooperation are strong enough to meet them is another. There are concerns whether current actions are enough to reach the 2035 and 2030 goals.
3. Indigenous Involvement and Rights
   Many protected areas and environmental actions occur on or near Indigenous lands. Ensuring that Indigenous Peoples are meaningfully involved and that their rights are respected is important but also challenging. Canada’s policies do mention collaborating with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis groups.

To sum up, in 2025, Canada is fully engaged in pushing forward its environmental commitments: strong emissions reduction goals, expanding clean electricity, nature-based climate solutions, stricter pollution control, adaptation work, and strengthening its environmental laws. But while ambitions are high, the real test will be over the coming years to ensure these policies are implemented effectively and equitably, especially given ongoing economic, political, and social trade-offs.

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