As part of its continued commitment to fight the health impacts of climate change, the CMA has set aggressive carbon intensity reduction targets. This move comes after the CMA passed a fossil fuel divestment motion requiring that the CMA and its subsidiaries divest their investments from energy companies whose primary business relies on fossil fuels.
Through this work, the CMA has set a target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in its investment portfolio overseen by CMA Investco. Interim targets include a 33% reduction by 2030, and a 66% reduction by 2040, compared to the portfolio’s 2020 baseline.
“This commitment to address climate change reflects the concerns of physicians and medical learners, who see first-hand the health impacts of extreme weather events.” — Dr. Katharine Smart, CMA president
In this year alone, a heat dome across Western Canada in June and ongoing wildfires in B.C. have cost hundreds of lives and devastated entire communities.
In a CMA member survey in October 2020, more than 75% of respondents agreed climate change will have a more frequent or severe effect on health issues, including physical illnesses and psychological conditions.
The Canadian policy brief for the 2020 Lancet countdown on health and climate change also mirrored these concerns. It stated that Canada is warming at double the global average rate, and even more rapidly in northern areas.
The new net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target is the latest step in the CMA’s work to promote a healthier planet.
The CMA will continue to explore ways it can combat climate change as part of its new strategy, Impact 2040.