Current Status
Status: Not Started
No concrete actions by the Carney government have advanced Canada's leadership in carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology since taking office.
Background
Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) has long been positioned as a key tool for Canada to balance its energy production with environmental goals, particularly in resource-heavy provinces like Alberta where oil sands operations generate significant emissions. Mark Carney, drawing on his background in finance and climate policy, emphasized CCUS during the 2025 federal election as a means to maintain Canada's edge in responsible energy amid global shifts toward net-zero economies. Fulfilling this promise would require sustained investment in research, infrastructure, and international partnerships to ensure Canada remains at the forefront of CCUS innovation, building on pre-existing federal programs without relying on them as new progress.
Evidence
On November 27, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a memorandum of understanding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to strengthen federal-provincial collaboration in the energy sector, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and unlock Alberta's energy resources [7]. This agreement outlined ambitions for a more sustainable and competitive economy but did not specify actions related to carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology.
No further documented actions by the Carney government toward advancing CCUS leadership have emerged as of March 11, 2026.
Assessment
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has yet to demonstrate progress on its campaign promise to continue Canada's leadership in carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology. The November 2025 memorandum of understanding with Alberta represents a high-level framework for energy collaboration, but it falls short of the tangible steps needed to bolster CCUS capabilities, such as new funding allocations, regulatory reforms, or technology deployments. Without specific initiatives tied to this promise, Canada's position in responsible energy production remains unchanged under Carney's leadership, leaving the commitment unaddressed more than a year into his term.
This lack of action comes at a time when global competitors are accelerating their own CCUS efforts, underscoring the need for the federal government to move beyond agreements and into implementation if it aims to deliver on election pledges. As deadlines for international climate targets approach, continued inaction risks eroding Canada's standing in this critical area.
Sources
- Canada’s Carbon Management Strategy - Natural Resources Canada
- CO2 Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) - Natural Resources Canada
- Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations
- Private Member's Bill C-437 (39-1) - First Reading - Canadian Sustainability Act - Parliament of Canada
- Private Member's Bill C-312 (44-1) - First Reading - National Renewable Energy Strategy Act - Parliament of Canada
- ARCHIVED - Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act
- Canada and Alberta strike new partnership to lower emissions, unlock our natural resources, and build a stronger, more sustainable, and more competitive economy | Prime Minister of Canada
- Delivering clean air and a strong economy for Canadians | Prime Minister of Canada