Lithuania, Netherlands and Mexico have also signed the declaration.
The federal government has signed an international declaration in an effort to curb greenhouse gases caused by public procurement.
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The Belém Declaration on Sustainable Public Procurement was put forward by host country Brazil during COP30, the UN climate conference held last November.
The declaration promotes knowledge sharing and international collaboration to lower greenhouse gas emissions in government procurement.
Lithuania, Netherlands and Mexico have also signed the declaration, among other countries.
However, the declaration is “non-binding and does not impose financial commitment or legal obligations,” according to a Brazilian government website on the declaration.
“By joining the Declaration, Canada reaffirms its commitment to using procurement as a strategic tool to support economic growth and reduce environmental impacts while delivering value for Canadians,” a government news release said.
Around 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be caused by public procurement, according to a 2022 World Economic Forum report.
“By signing the Belém Declaration alongside Brazil and other countries, Canada is strengthening international collaboration to advance sustainable procurement practices and build a more resilient and low-carbon future,” Shafqat Ali, president of the Treasury Board, said in a news release.
Canada’s signing of the declaration follows the Greening Government Strategy, a policy that aims to make the government’s operations net-zero by 2050.
The Greening Government Fund has funded more than $80 million to 130 projects across the federal government to lower the emissions of its operations.
However, the Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has also faced criticism for its climate record and strategy.
Under Carney, the federal government has pivoted on electric vehicles mandates created under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in favour of market incentives and emission standards.
