Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act

Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act
Parliament of Canada
Long title An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada’s efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050
Citation	S.C. 2021, c. 22
Considered by	House of Commons of Canada
Considered by	Senate of Canada
Royal assent	2024-06-20
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Commons of Canada
Bill citation	Bill C-12
Introduced by	Jonathan Wilkinson MP, [Minister of Environment and Climate Change]]
First reading	2020-11-19
Second reading	2021-06-28
Third reading	2021-06-22
Second chamber: Senate of Canada
Member(s) in charge	Rosa Galvez
First reading	2021-06-23
Second reading	2021-06-28
Third reading	2021-06-29
Related legislation
S.C. 2024, c. 13, S.C. 2018, c. 12, s. 186
Status: In force

The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (French : Loi canadienne sur la responsabilité en matière de carboneutralité) is an act of the Parliament of Canada which establishes an accountability and transparency framework for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. ^[1]

Background

Since the 1980s, Canada repeatedly set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. ^[1]

Provisions

The legislation enshrines in statute the government's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. ^[1]

The act requires the government to set national emissions reduction targets for 2035, 2040, 2045, 10 years in advance, alongside plans to achieve these goals. ^[2]

The act does not place any requirements on climate change adapatation. ^[3]

The Net-Zero Advisory Body is established by the act, with the purpose of advising the government on achieving and setting the targets under the act. ^[4]

Implementation

The 2035 target was published in December 2024 and sets a goal of 45-50% emissions reduction by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. ^[5] The Net-Zero Advisory Body had proposed a target of 50-55%. ^[6]

Reception

The legislation has been criticized by Christopher Campbell-Duruflé, an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, for not recognizing indigenous jurisdiction in climate policy. ^[7]

References

1. Wright, David V. (September 14, 2023). "Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act: A Bridge Over the Implementation Gap?". University of New Brunswick Law Journal. 73. SSRN   4568559 – via Social Science Research Network.
2. "Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act". www.canada.ca. February 25, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
3. Linden-Fraser, Ross (June 29, 2023). "Happy birthday, Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act!". 440 Megatonnes. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
4. Singh, Inayat (December 12, 2024). "Provinces need to do more to cut emissions, feds say, while announcing Canada's new 2035 climate target". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
5. Shakil, Ismail (December 12, 2024). "Canada sets new 45–50% emissions reduction goal for 2035". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
6. McCarthy, Shawn (October 21, 2024). "Canada caught between climate obligations and dissent at home". Corporate Knights. Archived from the original on February 13, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
7. Campbell-Duruflé, Christopher (March 21, 2024). "The stakes could not be higher as Canada sets its 2035 emissions target". The Conversation. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.