Canada is moving further away from its 2030 climate commitment as the federal government rolls back or weakens measures intended to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to a report released by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development on October 29.

The audit found that current projections point to a 28% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2030, down from the 36% projected in the government’s 2023 progress report. The latest estimate also does not fully reflect the effects of recent policy changes.

Canada has pledged to reduce emissions by 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. Data for 2024 show that emissions had fallen by 10% since the baseline year, excluding the land-use, land-use change and forestry sector.

The audit also criticized Environment and Climate Change Canada for failing to explain how the federal government would close the gap and achieve its 2030 commitment. Although the department improved its reporting on climate measures, it did not identify additional actions that could deliver the required reductions.

Two federal procurement initiatives examined by auditors also missed their objectives. A program intended to secure low-carbon fuel for government aircraft and marine fleets faced supply constraints and is now due to end in the 2026–27 fiscal year, four years earlier than planned.

The program was initially expected to cut emissions by 507 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). That estimate has since fallen to 80 kilotonnes.

A separate government standard requiring major suppliers to disclose emissions and set reduction targets did not collect enough information to establish whether it was driving cuts.

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