U.S., Canada, Mexico set joint goal of 50% clean power by 2025

30 June 2016 - Vienna

The United States, Canada and Mexico have set an ambitious joint goal to produce at least 50% of their power by 2025 from wind, solar and other carbon-free sources of electricity, as well as energy efficiency measures.

The North American Climate, Energy, and Environment Partnership was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Barack Obama, and President Enrique Peña Nieto on June 29, 2016, at the North American Leaders Summit in Ottawa, Canada. The goal covers the North America region as a whole, with each country acting in line with its own conditions, legal framework and national clean energy goals.

The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to join the Paris Agreement this year and implement their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and pledged to play a global leadership role on addressing climate change.

Measures in the partnership to "advance clean and secure energy" include more clean energy development and deployment (including carbon capture and storage); support for cross-border transmission projects; greater trilateral cooperation on greening government initiatives; and improving energy efficiency.

Specific commitments include aligning six energy efficiency standards or test procedures for equipment by the end of 2017, and a total of ten standards or test procedures by the end of 2019.

The three countries agreed to leverage participation in Mission Innovation, launched by world leaders at the UN Climate Change Summit in Paris last December, by identifying joint research and demonstration initiatives in priority areas such as: reducing methane emissions; carbon capture, utilization, and storage; electricity grids and energy storage; and conditioning of spaces and energy efficiency in buildings. 

They also agreed to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas industry, cut black soot and promote clean and efficient transportation.

For full details of the North American Climate, Energy, and Environment Partnership, click here.