L’heure n’est pas à l’inertie

The Canadian federal government has introduced a strategic assessment requiring major infrastructure projects with lifespans extending beyond 2050 to provide a concrete plan for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. While some critics argue the measure lacks a rigorous 'climate test' or is an improper strategic tool, the author contends its primary value lies in providing decision-makers with additional information and signaling to promoters that strict climate policies are forthcoming. The document highlights that high-emission, high-cost projects face risks of stranded assets due to future policy shifts and investment reorientations. While the author notes that the strategic assessment alone may not prevent stranded assets—especially since it only applies to projects lasting past 2050—it is viewed as a step toward investment stability. The author suggests that a 'climate accountability framework' with intermediate emission reduction milestones would further bridge the gap between long-term goals and short-term actions.

• The federal government's strategic assessment requires promoters of major infrastructure projects with a lifespan extending beyond 2050 to submit a concrete plan detailing how the project will reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
• The carbon neutrality requirement is not intended as a binding regulatory instrument or a definitive climate test, but rather as a means to provide decision-makers with additional information to assess if a project hinders or helps Canada's climate goals.
• High-emission and high-cost projects are vulnerable to 'stranded assets' and wasted value if future strict climate policies or investment priority shifts undermine their long-term profitability.
• The strategic assessment is limited because it only targets projects lasting beyond 2050, whereas a credible path to 2050 requires increasingly strict policies and emission reductions over time.
• To improve investor stability and bridge the gap between long-term goals and short-term actions, the author proposes a climate accountability framework that establishes intermediate emission reduction milestones.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2020). L’heure n’est pas à l’inertie. https://institutclimatique.ca/lheure-nest-pas-a-linertie/

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. L’heure n’est pas à l’inertie. 2020. https://institutclimatique.ca/lheure-nest-pas-a-linertie/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=L’heure n’est pas à l’inertie |date=30 July 2020 |url=https://institutclimatique.ca/lheure-nest-pas-a-linertie/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianclimateinstitute2020lheure, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{L’heure n’est pas à l’inertie}}, publisher = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://institutclimatique.ca/lheure-nest-pas-a-linertie/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }