The Auditor General's October 29 audit says federal departments did not take effective action toward Canada's thermal-coal export ban commitment.
What the Auditor General found
A report released October 29 by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, working within the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, finds that federal organizations have not effectively advanced a commitment made in 2021 to ban exports of thermal coal mined in Canada or shipped through Canadian ports by 2030. The audit says Environment and Climate Change Canada stopped work on the ban in 2024 without documented official direction or a public announcement. A promise to implement a ban is not the same as an enacted and operating ban.
Assessments were not completed
The commissioner's investigation says planned studies of consequences for affected workers, communities and the environment were not completed, and affected groups were not consulted as intended. Meanwhile, thermal coal exports shipped from Canada remained above their 2021 levels. The watchdog contrasts Canada's approximately 76% reduction in domestic emissions from coal-fired electricity between 2016 and 2024 with an estimated 115% increase in emissions from thermal coal exported from Canada and burned elsewhere. Those measures refer to different emissions boundaries.
A second pledge also drew criticism
Canada previously committed a C$1-billion loan to support developing countries' transition away from coal-generated electricity. The audit says Global Affairs Canada did not publicly report enough information about its progress and challenges and lacked a structured system for assessing whether proposed projects met eligibility criteria. The findings address governance and program oversight; they do not establish that every proposed overseas project was rejected or unsuccessful.
How this relates to Canada's 2030 goal
In a separate report issued the same day, the commissioner found Canada's latest projections indicate 28% lower national greenhouse-gas emissions in 2030 than in 2005, below the pledged 40%–45% reduction. That estimate also predates full accounting for some weakened or cancelled measures. The coal-export report specifically concerns international coal shipments and assistance abroad, while the emissions-target report measures national progress. Any corrective federal decisions will need to be evaluated separately, against announced action and observed outcomes.
Sources & transparency
Office of the Auditor General — thermal coal export commitment auditOffice of the Auditor General — national 2030 emissions gap auditOriginal CDN News coverage. Sources are linked for reference.
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