What Federally Mandated Net-Zero Emission Targets Mean To Nova Scotia

Federal legislation designed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will be felt strongly in Nova Scotia. In the event the Bill is passed (it is currently in its second reading) it will further impact Nova Scotian emitters already subject to strict emission, monitoring and reporting standards.

The proposed new legislation should surprise nobody. In 2016, Canada ratified the Paris Agreement and committed to national objectives to combat climate change. This proposed new legislation, Bill C-12, which falls short of setting specific targets on the way to achieving net-zero by 2050, is a legislative manifestation of the federal government's committee to Paris.

As it stands, many Nova Scotia companies – most notably, those in the oil and gas, transportation, building and electricity generation sectors — are already legislatively compelled to report their GHG emissions. Further, under the province's Cap and Trade program, many industries must remain under