The President is in Ottawa, Canada today for the North American Leaders' Summit.
This Summit (NALS) presents an important opportunity for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to meet together in recognition of the value of a more integrated North America in order to advance the security and prosperity of the entire continent. After all, North America is home to a community of over 500 million people who enjoy shrad democratic values, vibrant economies, dynamic cultures, and cooperation on pressing global and regional issues. As consumers, the people of North America are and will continue to be an economic powerhouse on the global stage.
Fun fact: Canada is also the first country President Obama visited after taking office in 2009.
So what's on the docket?
Clean energy and climate will take center stage at NALS as the three countries come together to release a North American climate clean energy and environment partnership. Jeff Zients and Brian Deese break down the plan here, but here are the key components of today's plan:
- A historic goal to achieve 50% clean power across North America by 2025, through a combination of renewable energy, nuclear power, power plants using carbon capture & storage, and cutting energy waste through efficiency.
- Mexico will join the United States and Canada in our commitment to reduce methane emissions 40 – 45 percent by 2025. In January 2015, President Obama announced the 40-45 percent goal for the United States. In March of this year, Prime Minister Trudeau announced the same goal. With this week’s announcement by President Pena Nieto, the three North American countries will have aligned independent methane targets.
Read the Leaders' statement on the North American, Clean Energy, and Environment Partnership
President Obama, Prime Minister Trudeau, and President Nieto will also hold a trilateral press conference to discuss today's announcement and other collective challenges they are addressing together. You can watch it live here at 3:00 pm ET:
President Obama will then head to Canada's House of Commons to address Parliament and the people of Canada on the deep and enduring ties between our two countries. Watch live at 5:25 pm ET: