Canada faces mounting international criticism and domestic backlash at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey, where federal environment officials defended the nation’s targets while leaders were simultaneously branded with “fossil of the day” awards.
The delegation in Antalya faced immediate friction when federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin insisted that Canada remains fully committed to its Paris Agreement climate targets and is achieving leadership status, La Presse reported.
That assertion drew swift condemnation from two former federal environment ministers. Catherine McKenna, who held the portfolio from 2015 to 2019, declared that the claim of adherence to Paris targets was absolutely false on a factual level, according to Radio-Canada.
Steven Guilbeault, who served as environment minister from 2021 to 2025, went further in an interview with RDI, calling the statement dishonest and arguing it had no place in politics, Radio-Canada reported.
“[Le Canada a] presque abandonné la lutte au changement climatique au pays. Lorsque j’ai quitté comme ministre de l’Environnement, le Canada s’alignait pour être à -36 % [de réduction des GES], peut-être même -38 % en 2030, alors que là, selon des analyses indépendantes, on sera quelque part autour de -14 %,” Guilbeault told RDI, as reported by Radio-Canada.
Independent projections stand in stark contrast to official talking points as the conference proceeds. While Minister Dabrusin pointed to the Carney budget—which allocates 50 billion dollars through 2050 for clean electricity grids, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and heat pump tax credits for 820,000 households—critics argue policy reality has shifted away from hard emissions cuts, Radio-Canada noted.
Adding to the diplomatic pressure, organizers of COP31 handed out annual “fossil of the day” awards on Tuesday to nine heads of state, including Mark Carney, Le Devoir reported. The distinction highlights administrations whose absence or policy reversals send damaging signals regarding global environmental urgency.
The recognition marks the second year Canada has received the dubious accolade. At COP30 last year, the federal government faced similar censure for pipeline financing in Western Canada and expedited environmental reviews for major industrial projects, according to Le Devoir.
Profoundly disagree with @juliedabrusin claiming the @Govenrment of Canada is “absolutely committed to our Paris commitments.” The reality is that we’re not! My thoughts here: https://t.co/Ipr7QwdS9b Je suis en profond désaccord avec @juliedabrusin qui affirme que le Canada… pic.twitter.com/mWQuPghWIA
Amid the political friction, the Canadian delegation pursued international partnerships on the ground in Turkey. FinDev Canada joined the United Kingdom’s British International Investment and Norway’s Norfund to sign a memorandum of understanding aiming to generate 10 billion United States dollars in climate financing by 2030, PR Newswire Canada reported.
“En mobilisant 10 milliards de dollars de financements privés pour la transition énergétique d’ici 2030, nous permettrons au financement public d’aller plus loin et favoriserons davantage d’investissements dans les énergies propres, la croissance durable et les opportunités économiques,” said Lucy Rigby KC, member of Parliament and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, as reported by PR Newswire Canada.
Minister Dabrusin also announced a bilateral clean energy agreement with Turkey alongside 116 million dollars in funding dedicated to 12 international environmental institutions operating in developing nations, Radio-Canada reported.
Patrick Bonin of Greenpeace pointed out that dozens of countries maintain credible transition roadmaps away from fossil fuels, whereas Canada continues promoting liquefied natural gas as part of the transition, according to Radio-Canada.
“[Il y a] 57 pays, dont la Grande-Bretagne, la France ou le Danemark, qui ont des feuilles de route crédibles pour sortir des énergies fossiles d’ici 2050. Le Canada n’a plus de feuille de route et profite de la COP pour essayer de vendre l’idée que son gaz naturel liquéfié fait partie de la transition énergétique,” Bonin told La Presse canadienne, as reported by Radio-Canada.
