US, Canadian governments to collaborate on green government-operations initiative

U.S. and Canadian leaders on Thursday announced a joint initiative on transitioning to net-zero government operations.

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) will collaborate with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat on the Greening Government Initiative. The two will collaborate on developing net-zero emission supply chains for their respective buildings and fleets, according to a joint announcement by the two.

“Confronting the climate crisis requires unprecedented cooperation across the globe to meet the urgency science requires,” CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory said in a statement. “By partnering, the United States and Canada can achieve our climate goals faster and serve as a model for other governments participating in the Greening Government Initiative. I look forward to seeing more international collaborations forged through this initiative so that together we can create a healthier climate for future generations.”

“Canada is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including in its government operations,” added Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos.

“We look forward to working with the United States and other countries on our GHG reduction goals and demonstrate leadership by greening government operations, including the adoption of greening procurement strategies,” Duclos added. “Leading by example is key, by collaborating on meeting common and individual greening government plans and objectives, we will all benefit from each other’s experience, best practices and innovation.”

The announcement comes the same day as the White House-hosted climate summit, where President Biden announced a target of 50 to 52 percent emission reductions by the end of the decade. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, announced an increased target of 40-45 percent reduction by 2030. Both targets will be formally submitted to the United Nations under the Paris Climate Agreement.

“No nation can solve this crisis on our own,” Biden said at the summit Thursday. “All of us, particularly those of us who represent the world’s largest economies, we have to step up.”