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Canadian Options for Post-2012

International negotiations on the future of the global climate regime are moving forward with critical decisions on the design and content of a new agreement expected to be made in the near-future. Canada has a significant stake in the outcomes of these negotiations. It has one of the strongest economies in the world, is a major energy producer and exporter, and is experiencing some of the most dramatic changes in climatic conditions as the Earth's average temperature steadily rises.

To influence the design of a post-2012 climate regime, Canada needs to prepare for and engage in international discussions, within and outside of the United Nations. Effective engagement requires an understanding of national, regional and sectoral priorities and circumstances within Canada that will influence its objectives for and perspectives on a future regime. It also requires understanding of the interests and priorities of other countries and their potential responses to Canadian positions.

IISD has fostered a dialogue on Canada's role in climate change policy post-2012, actively involving the federal government, provinces and individual companies in the discussions and analysis of:

• Canadian interests and concerns, to assist in bringing a Canadian perspective to international discussions;
• emerging approaches to post-2012 climate change cooperation, both mid-term (2012-2025) and longer-term (2025-2050); and
• various existing and emerging national forums and initiatives that will influence action on climate change.

The two-year dialogue process was launched in October 2006 with a national workshop that assisted in the identification of areas of interest for further research and discussion, and culminated in a national conference, A Way Forward: Canadian and International Perspectives on Post-2012 Climate Policy, in March 2008.

The discussions reflected national and regional priorities and circumstances and accounts for evolving international perspectives and initiatives at a time when Canada has become a major player in world energy markets.

The dialogue project aimed to build international understanding of key Canadian sensitivities and Canadian understanding of international perspectives in regard to the emerging climate change regime.

Project Outputs

• A Way Forward: Canadian Perspectives on Post-2012 Climate Policy (PDF - 2 mb)
  Published in May 2008
  This report assesses the four pillars of a post-2012 climate regime—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing and investment—from a Canadian perspective. These issues form the basis of the Bali Action Plan and have emerged as critical components to post-Bali discussions. The analysis aims to help set the groundwork for discussions in Canada and internationally, examining how these key areas may be incorporated in a post-2012 agreement, in light of Canadian interests and perspectives.

• A Way Forward Working Paper #1 - Advancing Development Goals in a Sustainable Manner: Options and Implications for Post-2012 International Climate Change Efforts (PDF - 361 kb)
  November 2007
  This working paper was developed as part of the Post-2012 Climate Dialogue Project. It outlines how to promote development while limiting greenhouse gas reductions, which is the first of four main areas identified for discussion under the Climate Change Convention Dialogue process initiated at Montreal in 2005 and concluded at Vienna in August, 2007. The paper explores strategies that promote mutually supportive climate change and development goals, emphasizing the importance of sustainable energy production and transportation modes, sensible land use management and adaptation.

• A Way Forward Working Paper # 2: The Role of Market-based Opportunities in the Emerging Post-2012 Climate Regime
  (PDF - 305 kb)
  November 2007
  This working paper was developed as part of the Post-2012 Climate Dialogue Project. It outlines the role of market-based opportunities, which is the fourth theme of the four main areas identified for discussion under the Climate Change Convention Dialogue process initiated at Montreal in 2005 and concluded at Vienna in August, 2007. The paper investigates ways to promote clean, climate-friendly development worldwide through the use of a wide-range of market-based approaches.

• Conference proceedings from IISD's A Way Forward: Canadian and International Perspectives on Post-2012 Climate Policy.
  On March 3-4, 2008, IISD hosted a conference in Ottawa, Canada, examining the scope and implications of the Bali Action Plan and aiming to reflect the world to Canadians and Canada to the world.

• International Climate Change Policy Scenarios (PDF - 384 kb)
  Produced in February 2008
  This paper lays out five broad policy scenarios on addressing climate change in the post-2012 world. The scenarios are representations of possible policy architectures that could be discussed in international negotiations, and they look at how the various approaches might unfold, with a particular emphasis on what that might mean for Canada. The qualitative analysis of these scenarios includes the criteria of environmental integrity, economic and competitiveness aspects, incentives for financing, political feasibility and Canadian interests.

• International Developments on Climate Change: Emerging Trends and Avenues for Influence and Collaboration (PDF - 337 kb)
  Produced in January 2007
  This paper examines the outcomes of various international initiatives (inside and outside the UN), emerging international processes and their implications for Canadian interests in post-2012 discussions. It also provides an assessment of positions of key countries and of the views of the international community on unique Canadian circumstances and priorities to help inform our negotiators of anticipated responses to proposed positions.

• Meeting Report from the launch of the project "Canada and Post-2012 Climate Change Policy: Fostering a Dialogue"
  (PDF - 100 kb)
  Held on October 5, 2006

Related Publication

• Canada in a Post-2012 World
  This publication explores Canadian and international perspectives on establishing a sustainable, global regime for climate change action. It provides a set of analytical tools to help frame Canadian perspectives on the range of international options being considered for a post-Kyoto world, and an initial assessment of how Canadian sensitivities and perspectives might be received by critical parties in the global community. One common theme that emerges is that Canada needs to respond in a meaningful way that works to position the country as a leader in a clean energy future. Produced in 2005.

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