The purpose of this report is to share NZAB’s engagement efforts from 2022 and 2023, and what NZAB heard during its engagement activities. This report reflects on ten overarching themes that emerged from NZAB’s 2022-2023 engagement:
- Accountability: Culture and mechanisms for net-zero accountability need to be embedded in both public and private sectors to set and keep us on net-zero pathways.
- Affordability: Net-zero policy development must consider the cost-of-living challenges facing many Canadians.
- Competitiveness: Net-zero policy needs to both reduce emissions and position Canada to have a competitive and prosperous net-zero economy.
- Equity: Climate policies and programs need to build stronger and more equitable communities, that respond to social, health and economic needs, while also driving emissions reductions.
- Indigenous rights: Indigenous rights must be respected, including the full and meaningful implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, for all net-zero projects and pathways.
- Implementation: Action is needed now to fully implement committed policies in a timely manner to achieve Canada’s ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals, and in many cases strengthen them to set us on pathways to net-zero.
- People: Net-zero pathways must include greater focus on people, including Indigenous Peoples, local and racialized communities, the private sector (small-and-medium sized enterprises), workers and trade unions, as well as with youth, new Canadians, women, and economically vulnerable populations.
- Regional awareness: Regional differences and circumstances, including differing urban and rural needs, energy system designs, and infrastructure and workforce distribution, need to be considered during the design and implementation of net-zero policies and programs.
- Transparency: Canada’s net-zero policy-making process, including the use of data and modeling, must be open and transparent.
- Vision: Canada requires a clear vision on what the country’s net-zero future and energy transition looks like to drive demand and investment.