When new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives in Washington for a state visit this week, climate action and the Arctic are expected to be among the top issues. Both President Obama and Trudeau are eager to show what they can achieve after setting ambitious climate goals in Paris and a new cooperation agreement is due to be signed during their visit.
Here is an English version of this article.
After years of somewhat cold relations with Canada’s former conservative prime minister, Stephen Harper, President Obama can expect this week to meet a Canadian politician with whom he has more in common. The Liberal Party’s Justin Trudeau, elected Canada’s new Prime Minister in October, wants to strengthen relations with his powerful neighbor and has announced a number of changes. Obama and Trudeau share many visions, particularly on environmental matters. An agreement on closer cooperation will be signed during the visit, and there are many indications that it could be a summit where climate and Arctic development will be a central issue.
Bilateral agreement
– The two leaders think very much the same thing. This visit is generating great enthusiasm among the Canadian public and I hope that the summit will show that they are now committed to taking joint action. This should be an opportunity for Canada to strengthen its environmental goals and get in sync with the United States, Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party in Canada, told HNN.
May has worked closely with Trudeau and, among other things, was part of the Canadian delegation to the climate summit in Paris in December. She hopes that Trudeau will focus on climate measures during his visit to Washington, particularly in the North.
– Canada’s presidency of the Arctic Council has moved the Council away from focusing on climate change. But I think that will change under Prime Minister Trudeau, says May.
For now, both countries are keeping their cards close to their chest regarding the details of the next bilateral agreement. The Canadian press believes that the agreement will contain, among other things, stricter emissions limits for cars and new measures aimed at increasing the use and development of electric and driverless cars.
– New era in climate cooperation
Cathleen Kelly, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP) think tank in Washington, presented one ahead of the weekend report with recommendations for the next summit. Founded by John Podesta, current campaign director of Hillary Clinton, CAP is close to the Obama administration and constitutes an influential voice in American politics.
– This week’s meeting will mark the start of a new era in climate cooperation with Canada, Kelly told HNN, emphasizing that the next agreement would also be a step toward a trilateral agreement including Mexico.
– Leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico plan a summit this summer. The deal with Canada could be the start of an ambitious joint North American climate agenda, Kelly says.
In the report, Kelly highlights four areas where she believes Obama and Trudeau can and should engage in stronger joint efforts: reducing methane emissions from oil and gas production, limiting carbon pollution black in the Arctic, promoting renewable energy and strengthening global knowledge on the dangers of climate change in the Arctic.
We’re starting to rush for Obama
– President Obama is about to have a tough time if he wants to secure his climate legacy. Prime Minister Trudeau wants to break with the scientific skepticism and lukewarm attitude of his predecessor Harper towards climate work. Trudeau recognizes the dangers of climate change and has promised to base his policies on science. This opens up a whole new collaboration between the United States and Canada. The state visit will be an ideal opportunity to promote environmental policy, says Kelly, who adds that the United States and Canada need new measures if they are to achieve the goals that the countries committed to at the summit on the climate in Paris.
Prime Minister Trudeau is under pressure to present a comprehensive policy for the Northern region. During the election campaign, he dismissed his predecessor’s Arctic policies as empty rhetoric and stressed that he and his Liberal Party had “another plan.” The high-profile visit to Washington could be an opportunity to show critics at home and observers abroad that Canada’s new government will establish a more active and environmentally focused policy in the North.
Nearly twenty years have passed since Canada’s last state visit to the United States. Then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien visited President Bill Clinton in 1997. Justin Trudeau’s father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, made official visits to Washington in 1974 and 1977.
