This petition is a follow-up to petition 525. The follow-up petition asserts that the previously reported decline in greenhouse gas emissions between 2018 and 2023 is misleading because it includes pandemic-related
travel reductions.
According to the petition, when looking at the broader context, light truck emissions increased by 156% between 1990 and 2018, compared with a 20.9% increase in total national emissions during the same period. The petition states that overall gains in engine efficiency have been offset by the rising prevalence of heavier, more powerful vehicles. The petition indicates that the International Energy Agency has recognized that one of the main global drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector is the use of these larger vehicles. The petition states that regulatory gaps have allowed for many larger trucks to be classified as light trucks, which undermines the ability to meet climate targets.
The petition includes recommended actions such as the following:
- revising vehicle classification rules
- introducing mass and power caps for compliance and incentives
- promoting vehicle rightsizing in federal climate planning
- regulating automaker marketing strategies to limit the substitution of cars with light trucks
The petition asserts that these actions will align Canada’s approach with its climate objectives.