Canada wants to be a good energy partner for Europe, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that the country would not relinquish its climate goals or the planned shift to cleaner fuels.
Trudeau stated during a visit to Ukraine that Canada seeks to be "good partners on energy with our European friends, but we're never slowing down in our fight against climate change."
In an unannounced visit to Ukraine, Trudeau also expressed confidence in the Bank of Canada's efforts to control three-decade-high inflation. Earlier, Trudeau stated that Canada will provide new weapons and equipment to Ukraine, as well as reopen its embassy in the country's capital, Kyiv.
European countries are currently facing impending energy issues as a result of possible sanctions on Russian energy products.
Last week, on May 2, energy ministers from European Union countries held emergency energy talks in response to Russia's demand that buyers pay for energy supplies in roubles or have their gas supply cut off.
After years of failing to meet its targets, Canada released a roadmap to meeting 2030 climate targets in March, outlining specific plans and C$9.1 billion (US$7.3 billion) in spending to reduce planet-warming carbon emissions. By 2030, it intends to reduce carbon emissions by 40 to 4% below 2005 levels.
Oil and gas is Canada's most polluting industry, accounting for 26% of total emissions. The industry would have to make drastic cuts to meet the government's target.
Canada's natural resources minister told Reuters on Friday that the government is in talks with Repsol and Pieridae Energy, the companies behind two proposed east coast LNG export facilities, to see how it can speed up the projects and support boost supply to Europe.
Canada is well-positioned to assist Europe is shifting away from Russian energy imports and toward Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The Quebec government refused to approve the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility that would have transported natural gas from Western Canada to Eastern Canada for export to Europe and Asia on July 21, 2021.
The proposed project was to be built in Saguenay, Quebec, but Quebec Minister Benoit Charette killed it because the CAQ government did not believe it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and would discourage European and Asian countries from investing in and transitioning to "cleaner" energy sources.
"The promoter has failed to demonstrate this. This is a project with more disadvantages than advantages," Minister Charette started in July 2021.
