Coming off the recent Paris Climate Summit, many nations are taking deeper looks at their long-term strategies to combat climate change 
and reduce greenhouse gases. Led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada in particular is taking steps toward developing a climate change strategy. Trudeau is meeting with his minsters in early March to discuss and begin developing its plan.
As Canada works on its energy plan, it is interesting to note some areas in common and in contrast with the United States:
In common with U.S., Canada:
- Currently gets 20% of its energy supply from nuclear power
- Is looking at commercial applications of small modular reactors and advanced reactors
- Oil production has been severely impacted by dropping prices; its oil production processes are much more expensive and capital intensive than other oil producing countries.
- Is expanding renewables at a fast pace and costs are declining
Unlike the U.S., Canada is:
- Phasing out coal burning, with Ontario leading the way by shutting down its last coal plant in 2014
- Investing in its nuclear plants – the recent endorsement of the OPG Darlington and Bruce Power Refurbishments will mean two of the largest nuclear stations in the world will continue producing power well into the current century
- Focused on creating surpluses for funding the future decommissioning of its nuclear plants
- Most notably, focused on a comprehensive energy strategy at the national level that meets its supply needs while also supporting a zero-carbon future
According to a recent article in The Globe & Mail there are four imperatives for the Canadian energy strategy:
- All low-carbon energy technologies are on the innovation table and given a fair hearing – not only for what they promise tomorrow, but also for what they deliver today.
- Recognize the important role of low-carbon nuclear power and new reactor technologies in making the ambitions of the United Nations Climate Change Conference a reality.
- Mobilize Canada’s strategic advantage in innovative fields such as reactor fuels, design, manufacturing, testing and applications.
- Bring those assets into partnerships with its continental neighbors such as the U.S.
Of course, there are still challenges and contradictions that Canada, and the U.S., must work through. The tar sands oil and gas production is a major contributor (at full capacity) to carbon emissions, and the byproduct of that mining (along with the current mining of coal) contributes to carbon emissions in North American and wherever oil, gas and coal is sold. However, Canadians appear to be taking their role in contributing to the emission of carbon containing fuels very seriously. Moreover, the overall public acceptance of nuclear power as a clean energy solution is much higher in Canada than in the U.S. It will be interesting to see these issues getting full airplay. Canada has an opportunity to set the course for its own energy future while providing a solid example for the U.S. to follow. Could this momentum translate into a North American clean energy agreement? How much longer will it take for the U.S. to initiate a similar focus on its energy future is an unanswered question – especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s stay of the Clean Power Plan?
