Climate change will be a priority during President Barack Obama's discussions in Canada Wednesday as he attends a North American Leaders' Summit in Ottawa.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will join Obama in announcing a continent-wide climate partnership aimed at generating half of North America's electricity from non-carbon sources by 2025. Currently just over a third of the continent's electricity comes from clean energy sources such as wind, solar, hydropower or nuclear energy.
The U.S. and Canada have already committed to cutting methane gas emissions by 40 percent to 45 percent below 2012 levels over the coming decade, preserving more land and marine areas of the Arctic, and speeding development of green technologies. President Peña Nieto is also expected to announce his country's commitment to this goal.
Mexico faces additional challenges, as it plans to double its clean energy production in the next eight years. According to the International Energy Association, 18% of Mexico's total power generation is clean energy, but they have already passed legislation committing to reach 35 percent by 2024.
Trade also will be high on the agenda Wednesday. Mexico and Canada are two of the U.S.'s top three trading partners, and Canada was the U.S.'s largest export market last year.
The White House has said this summit is an opportunity to "highlight the significance of North America."
The leaders will also be discussing the Transpacific Partnership and how they plan to ratify it in their respective countries.
Britain's vote to exit from the European Union and its impact on trade and the global economy will also be discussed by the three leaders. Though negotiations are the responsibility of Britain and the European Union, the White House says North American countries will need to continue to engage with a range of partners to discuss the implications and effects.
via Voice of America http://ift.tt/295d7Nl
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