Canada outlines plans for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from large manufacturers and power generators

The Government of Canada has published a document outlining how it intends to regulate the greenhouse gas emissions of the country’s largest industrial plants.
In April, upon releasing its climate change plan, the government said it wanted to see a 45-megatonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from what are known as “Large Final Emitters” or “LFEs.”
LFEs number about 700 companies in the mining and manufacturing, oil and gas and thermal electricity sectors. They represent just under half of the total Canadian greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, the government needs to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 270 megatonnes.
The Notice of Intent to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Large Final Emitters (LFEs) was published in the Canada Gazette on July 15. It is intended as a roadplan on how to meet the 45 megatonne reduction goal during the period of 2008-2012 set by the Kyoto Protocol. It outlines how emissions reduction targets would be set, the mechanisms that would be used and a possible regulatory framework.
The first step in regulating emissions for LFEs is for the government to add greenhouse gases to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Consultations are continuing through August on this issue.
According to the Minister of the Environment, they intend to establish clear emission-reduction targets for the large emitters and give them multiple avenues for meeting their targets. One way the LEFs will be able to meet their targets is by contributing to a new Technology Investment Fund.