Trudeau draws praise as leaders gather for global climate summit

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It is a stark contrast: Canada has come to a climate conference with a very different approach to that taken by Stephen Harper's Conservatives, and Justin Trudeau's government is being hailed as one of the "signs of hope" for global climate talks.

A detailed plan of how and when Canada will act to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions hasn't yet been worked out with the provinces – and Mr. Trudeau's government hints it will eventually set even more ambitious targets than the ones Canada brought to Paris. But now, in Paris, where 150 world leaders have converged for the start of new UN-sponsored global talks on climate change, Mr. Trudeau has arrived to praise from those pushing for a new, global accord.

World leaders, including Mr. Trudeau, are in Paris to provide, in the words of France's President François Hollande, "an act of political impulsion" intended to drive the work of negotiators over the next two weeks.

Mr. Trudeau, who met with Mr. Hollande at the President's Élysée Palace on Sunday, was hearing slap-on-the-back feedback. "We are seeing signs of hope, and I have to say that among these signs of hope there is Canada's position," France's President said after meeting Mr. Trudeau on Sunday.

The French pointed to the promise Mr. Trudeau made Friday to put $2.65-billion into emissions-reduction projects for developing countries, and the pledge to adopt carbon pricing. Where countries such as France tried to coax Mr. Trudeau's predecessor, Stephen Harper, toward greener positions, Mr. Hollande said Canada and France would unite their diplomatic efforts to persuade other nations.

"His approach on the climate file is really just to say thank you Canada for being a strong and positive actor, because actually having a new position, a fresh position and perspective from Canada really highlights to the countries that have been a little more reticent that the momentum is shifting toward countries engaging," Mr. Trudeau said outside the Élysée.

For environmentalists, the new PM's climate policies are not the finished article. Mr. Trudeau came to Paris with the same emissions targets set by Mr. Harper – a 30-per-cent reduction from 2005 levels by 2030 – and there's no national plan yet, noted Steven Guilbeault, senior director of Équiterre. Yet environmentalists around the world are thrilled at Canada's changed tone, he said: "We are emerging from some dark ages."

For others, Mr. Trudeau's new tone has to be checked for economic risk. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, one of five premiers in Paris, warned in a statement that Canada should "not forget about our important and currently stressed energy industry."

Similar concerns are raised by some countries in a variety of regions. Poland, for example, worries countries won't commit to measures nearly as stringent as those required within the European Union. India doesn't want to commit to a target year for peaking emissions, arguing it will need to keep expanding the use of fossil fuels to develop economically.

U.S. President Barack Obama has another constraint: He must avoid an agreement that has the legal status of a treaty, because the Republican-controlled Senate would not ratify it.

Participants hope to finesse the differences: Environment Minister Catherine McKenna noted Canada wants a deal where countries will be required to submit emissions targets, but the targets themselves would not be a legally binding part of the agreement – that's what's expected. Instead, the accord could require reporting and transparency standards so progress could be monitored.

Just how effective Canada's new climate diplomacy will be is difficult to gauge. Mr. Trudeau's planned Sunday meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was rescheduled to a brief chat Monday at India's request. The PM has, however, attended three summits this month, and his meetings in Paris on Monday are slated to include leaders of the European Union, Jordan and Israel.

The harder part, for Mr. Trudeau, comes after Paris, in meeting the commitments already made, and the ones they have led people to expect.

While several provinces, including Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario and now Alberta, have either adopted or announced a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system for emissions, the total expected emissions reductions would not reach the existing target set by Mr. Harper's government. Mr. Trudeau has not indicated how he will make carbon pricing national – although his government has noted that promised new initiatives, including $20-billion in green infrastructure funds over 10 years, could encourage action.

And then there's the higher bar: Ms. McKenna reiterated that the Liberal government wants to set even more ambitious emissions targets – after it negotiates with provinces.