Bill C-232: An Act respecting a Climate Emergency Action Framework

Bill C-232 If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at [email protected]. First Reading LEGISinfo Bilingual view XML PDF Skip to Document Navigation Skip to Document Content ENGLISHSUMMARYSUMMARYPreamblePreamble1 Short Title1 Short Title2 Interpretation2 Interpretation3 Purpose3 Purpose4 Climate Emergency Action Framework4 Climate Emergency Action Framework5 Reports to Parliament5 Reports to Parliament First Session, Forty-third Parliament, 68-69 Elizabeth II, 2019-2020 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-232 An Act respecting a Climate Emergency Action Framework FIRST READING, February 26, 2020 NOTE 2nd Session, 43rd Parliament This bill was introduced during the first session of the 43rd Parliament. Pursuant to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, it is deemed to have been considered and approved at all stages completed at the time of prorogation of the first session. The number of the bill remains unchanged. Ms. Gazan 431071 SUMMARY This enactment provides for the development and implementation of a climate emergency action framework. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 1st Session, 43rd Parliament, 68-69 Elizabeth II, 2019-2020 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-232 An Act respecting a Climate Emergency Action Framework Preamble Whereas it is essential to recognize that the right of all Canadians to a safe, clean and healthy environment is a human right that requires that action be taken to address the current global climate crisis; Whereas climate change poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health and natural environment of Canada; Whereas Canada is committed to taking all measures necessary to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with its commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement while complying fully with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; And whereas the Parliament of Canada recognizes the current climate emergency as a national emergency and that the Government of Canada must immediately develop and implement a climate emergency action framework; Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Climate Emergency Action Act. Interpretation Definitions 2 (1) The following definitions apply in this Act. Convention on Climate Change means the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, done in New York on May 9, 1992, which entered into force in 1994 and includes the Paris Agreement, done in Paris on December 12, 2015, which entered into force in 2016. (Convention sur les changements climatiques) Indigenous peoples has the meaning assigned by the definition aboriginal peoples of Canada in subsection 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982. (peuples autochtones) Indigenous science and knowledge means the Indigenous science and knowledge of the Indigenous peoples. (savoirs autochtones) Minister means the Minister of the Environment. (ministre) Rights of Indigenous peoples (2) This Act is to be construed as upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and not as abrogating or derogating from them. Purpose Purpose 3 The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the Government of Canada takes all measures necessary to ensure that Canada respects its commitment under the Convention on Climate Change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that it does so while complying fully with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Climate Emergency Action Framework Climate emergency action framework 4 (1) The Minister must, in consultation with Indigenous peoples and civil society, develop and implement a climate emergency action framework to achieve the objectives of the Convention on Climate Change respecting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The framework must include measures to (a) ensure that Canada meets, at a minimum, the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set for 2030 under the Convention on Climate Change; (b) ensure a transition towards a green economy by, among other means, increasing employment in green energy, infrastructure and housing; and (c) ensure the economic well-being, public health and protection of the natural environment of Canada. Development (2) In the development of the climate emergency action framework, the Minister must: (a) uphold the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 13, 2007; and (b) take into account scientific knowledge, including Indigenous science and knowledge, in relation to the environment and its protection, as well as the responsibilities of Canadians towards future generations. Reports to Parliament Tabling of framework 5 (1) Within one year after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the climate emergency action framework and cause the report to be tabled before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Publication (2) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of the Environment within 10 days after the day on which the report is tabled in Parliament. Report 6 (1) Within three years after the day on which the report referred to in section 5 is tabled in both Houses of Parliament, the Minister must prepare a report on the effectiveness of the climate emergency action framework that sets out his or her conclusions and recommendations, including any planned actions, regarding the framework. Tabling of report (2) The Minister must cause the report to be tabled before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU