For immediate release: September 5, 2025
Statement from Environmental Defence’s Programs Director, Keith Brooks, on Prime Minister Carney’s Announcements Regarding the Zero Emissions Vehicle Standard and Canada’s Approach to Climate Change
Canadians need to know that the government is committed to fighting climate change and protecting our environment.
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – “We are disappointed to hear that the government is waiving the 2026 compliance date for the Electric Vehicle Availability Standards and launching a 60-day review of the standard. Transportation is Canada’s second largest source of emissions, and personal vehicles are the lion’s share of those emissions. Any review of the Standard must be transparent and answer the question about how Canada can reduce emissions from the transportation sector, support local industries and jobs and ensure that Canadians can access affordable electric vehicles. The review must be based on real data, not just claims made by some car manufacturers, most of whom have fought against the adoption of this standard from the outset.
Canada has invested heavily, both political and financial capital, in building a homegrown EV industry. Backing away now would not only be short-sighted, but it would also leave our domestic auto industry dangerously exposed to shocks from American protectionism and would deprive Canadian consumers access to electric cars that are cheaper to own over their lifecycle and pollute much less than ICE vehicles.
We look forward to the forthcoming “climate competitiveness strategy” and welcome the promise that Canada will be a leader in decarbonization. As the Prime Minister stated, fighting climate change is a moral obligation and is imperative for competitiveness. This government has been too quiet on climate change for too long. We need to know that Canada remains committed to meeting our international commitments on climate change and we need to know how this government intends to do so.
We caution the government against extending any more fossil fuel subsidies as part of its Strategic Response Fund or through other mechanisms, including to carbon capture projects. And we also want to be clear that there is no way to reconcile an increase in the production and export of fossil fuels – oil, LNG, or coal – with actually fighting climate change. Oil and gas production is now Canada’s largest source of emissions by a wide margin, and “decarbonized oil” is a dangerous myth. Prime Minister Carney has previously been very clear about the risks of stranded assets when it comes to the fossil fuel sector. We hope that he can heed his own warning.”
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
