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Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

The transition to a cleaner, prosperous economy needs to be both an immediate priority and a sustained effort over the years and decades ahead. Canada must keep innovating to meet this long-term goal, strengthening and building on existing measures that fight climate change and transform the economy.

To avert the worst impacts of climate change, the Government of Canada is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

This goal will require support and engagement from all parts of society, including provinces and territories, cities, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and businesses. 

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.

Canada’s plan to reach Net-Zero

The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which became law on June 29, 2021, enshrines in legislation Canada’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Act ensures transparency and accountability as the government works to deliver on its targets. The Act requires public participation and independent advice to guide the Government of Canada’s efforts. 

2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy

Building on the actions in Canada’s strengthened climate plan (2020), and the Pan-Canadian Framework (2016), the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (2022) provides a roadmap to how Canada will meet its enhanced Paris Agreement target to reduce emissions by 40-45% from 2005 levels by 2030.

The Government of Canada published the country’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan in March 2022. The plan reflects input from provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, the Net-Zero Advisory Body, and interested Canadians on what is needed to reach Canada’s more ambitious climate target of 40-45% emissions reductions by 2030.

Net-Zero Advisory Body

The Net-Zero Advisory Body (NZAB) was launched in February 2021. With up to 15 members that bring together relevant experience and knowledge, the Advisory Body provides independent advice to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change that supports achieving Canada’s net-zero target.

In November 2021, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Natural Resources asked the Net-Zero Advisory Body to provide advice on guiding principles to inform the development of quantitative five-year targets for caps on emissions from the oil and gas sector. This advice will support the achievement of the Government’s commitment to capping and cutting emissions from the sector at the pace and scale needed to get to net zero by 2050.

The Net-Zero Challenge

Companies operating in Canada have an essential role to play in helping the country achieve net-zero emissions. The Net-Zero Challenge encourages businesses to develop and implement credible and effective plans to transition their facilities and operations to net-zero emissions by 2050. Any Canadian company or business can join the Net-Zero Challenge. 

Going solar on the home front

Installing your own residential solar electric system

Sow a little sunshine, so to speak, and you can start reaping those rays.

Micro-generation—that is, generating small amounts of power at the residential or building level—is becoming a more practical option all the time, as advances in innovation continue to reduce the capital costs for these systems. And solar panels can generate anywhere from a small portion to the full spectrum of your home’s electricity and hot water needs.

Are you ready to harness the sun, and have your own residential solar electric system installed?

Here are a few things to consider:

Solar water heating or solar energy production?

• By installing photovoltaic (PV) panels on your roof, you’ll be producing your own electricity, rather than drawing all of your household power from the electrical utility grid.

• Another option is installing a solar water heater, which can economically generate hot water for your home. You’ll want to consider a well-insulated storage tank, and you’ll almost certainly need a backup system, such as a tankless water heater, for cloudy days.

On or off the grid?

• A grid-connected solar energy system ties your solar PV system to the electricity grid. That means your household can use the solar power your system is generating. It also means you purchase electricity from the grid when your system isn’t producing all the power you need; at the same time, you get credit for sending the excess power to the grid when you’re producing more than you require.

• An off-grid PV system requires significant battery storage. Be warned—designing, permitting, and installing can be a challenge.

• A qualified solar energy service provider can handle much of the heavy lifting, including an initial estimate, site assessment, system design and quote, permitting and grid connection application, installation and commissioning.

A cold climate hampers solar power generation, right?

• Wrong. A solar PV system based in Calgary produces about the same amount of energy a year as an equivalent system in Miami.

• Solar heating and electricity technology operate more efficiently in cold ambient temperatures, especially on very cold days with clear skies.

• The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) estimates that Alberta’s solar energy resource is equivalent to the province’s remaining conventional established oil reserves.

What about government incentives?

Depending on where you live, government incentives or rebates may be available to subsidize your investment in a residential solar system:

• In Alberta, there’s the Alberta Municipal Solar Program, the Growing Forward agricultural program, and the SPARK Green Offset Program;

• In Saskatchewan, the Net Metering Rebate is available to some electricity customers;

• In the Northwest Territories, grants are available through the small, medium, and community renewable energy funds;

• Check with Natural Resources Canada to find out more about incentives for solar, energy efficiency, and water savings upgrades in the province where you live.

Sean Fleming knows the power of the sun. The general manager of a Nova Scotia-based solar business says our low-carbon future is going to be powered by the sun:

“What the International Energy Agency says about solar energy is that by 2050, it is going to be the leader globally for power production ahead of wind, fossil fuels and nuclear.”

Fleming says smart investments today can ensure Canada is at the forefront of alternate power sources that protect our environment.

Sean Fleming spoke about the potential for solar energy at the GLOBE 2016 Conference and Innovation Expo in Vancouver in March. He was not paid for his comments and did not endorse any specific company. GLOBE is North America’s largest and longest-running conference series dedicated to business innovation and climate change solutions for the planet.