Youth, advocacy groups sue Carney government over climate rollbacks

Youth, advocacy groups sue Carney government over climate rollbacks

Lawsuit alleges Ottawa is violating the climate accountability act

Young people and environmental groups are suing the Carney government — alleging it's undoing Canada's climate plan and breaking federal law in the process.

Three young people and two environmental groups are asking the Federal Court to order Ottawa to develop a climate plan that achieves Canada's legally binding 2030 climate targets.

"When political leaders say they are committed to climate action while dismantling the very policies needed to achieve it, young people notice," said Sophia Mathur, one of the youth listed in the application for the judicial review.

"We are the ones who will be facing and living with the consequences."

The case alleges the federal government, through recent climate policy changes, is violating Canada's climate accountability act — formally known as the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.

Since the 2030 climate plan, also known as the emissions-reduction plan (ERP), "was established, the government of Canada has eliminated, weakened and/or significantly altered [its] key measures," according to the notice of application filed Monday in Federal Court.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the environment minister reiterated the government's commitment Canada's mid-century climate target.

"We are aware of the recent court challenge," said Keean Nembhard, the minister's press secretary. "The government of Canada is committed to fighting climate change and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. We will continue working to build a clean, low-carbon and resilient country.

"As this matter is before the courts, we cannot comment further."

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The Trudeau government passed the climate accountability act in 2021. It legally requires the government to set credible, science-based climate targets and establish a plan to achieve them.

"Over the last year, we have watched the Carney government weaken, delay and repeal Canada's key climate policies without identifying credible alternatives to make up the gap, all while doubling down on a future powered by fossil fuels," said Charlie Hatt, Ecojustice's climate director.

Ecojustice, an environmental law charity, is representing the plaintiffs.

"In short, we're asking for a plan to achieve the target. Not a plan to fail," Hatt said.

Carney’s taken a ‘wrecking ball’ to Canada’s climate progress plan: Environmental Defence

"Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, we have seen a sweeping dismantling of climate policy without a credible plan to reduce emissions and meet Canada's 2030 target," said Dr. Samantha Green, a family doctor and president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment — one of the applicants alongside the group Environmental Defence.

The environmental rollbacks since Carney came into power over a year ago include:

"The prime minister has taken a wrecking ball to our hard-fought climate progress," said Julia Levin with Environmental Defence Canada.

The Carney government has outlined in broad strokes its approach to reducing emissions through its climate competitiveness strategy. It includes finalizing federal methane regulations, advancing investment tax credits, offering consumers rebates on electric vehicles and developing an electricity strategy.

But the government has yet to show how all those initiatives will together achieve Canada's legally binding climate targets — as both government and independent analyses show they are falling further out of reach.

Senior reporter, Parliamentary Correspondent

David Thurton is a senior reporter in CBC's Parliamentary Bureau. He covers daily politics in the nation’s capital and specializes in environment and energy policy. Born in Canada but raised in Trinidad and Tobago, he’s moved around more times than he can count. He’s worked for CBC in several provinces and territories, including Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He can be reached at david.thurton@cbc.ca