The transition to a cleaner, prosperous economy needs to be both an immediate priority and a sustained effort over the years and decades ahead. The only way to meet this long-term goal is for Canada to keep innovating, strengthening, and building on existing measures.
Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan has put the country on track to not only meet, but exceed its 2030 Paris Agreement emissions reduction goal – we can’t stop there. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to moving to net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Government of Canada cannot achieve net-zero emissions on its own.
This goal will require support and engagement from all parts of society, including provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and businesses.
The proposed Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, introduced in Parliament on November 19, 2020, will formalize Canada’s target to achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2050, and establish a series of interim emissions reduction targets at 5-year milestones toward that goal.
It will also require a series of plans and reports to support accountability and transparency and help ensure Canada hits all of its milestones on the way its goal to achieve a prosperous net-zero economy by the year the 2050.
Net-Zero Advisory Body
In February 2021, the Government of Canada established an independent group of experts from across the country, who will consult with Canadians and provide the Government with advice on the best pathways to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.The Advisory Body is comprised of 14 individuals from across Canada with a diverse range of experience and expertise in business, policymaking, science and other areas.
New Initiatives
As part of Canada’s plan, the Government of Canada has committed $3 billion to establish a Net-Zero Accelerator Fund to help large emitter reduce their emissions.
Later this year, the Government of Canada will launch the Net-Zero Challenge, a voluntary initiative to encourage Canadian companies, particularly large industrial emitters, to develop and implement plans to transition their operations to net-zero emissions by 2050.
What is Net-Zero?
Achieving net-zero emissions means our economy either emits no greenhouse gas emissions or offsets its emissions, for example, through actions such as tree planting or employing technologies that can capture carbon before it is released into the air. This is essential to keeping the world safe and livable for our kids and grandkids.
Canada has joined over 120 countries in committing to be net-zero emissions by 2050, including all other G7 nations (United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan), A number of provinces and cities have already made net-zero-by-2050 commitments, including Guelph, Vancouver, Hamilton, Toronto, Halifax, Newfoundland and Labrador, and most recently Quebec. Prince Edward Island has also pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Nova Scotia and British Columbia have put into place, or plan to put into place, provincial net-zero-by-2050 legislation.
