CANADA ATLANTIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité

The report identifies Atlantic Canada as a leader in decoupling GDP growth from greenhouse gas emissions, though it faces significant fiscal risks due to a reliance on oil, gas, and coal. While Nova Scotia is a hub for transition-related innovation in batteries, smart grids, and low-carbon shipping, regional companies generally remain small and undercapitalized. Vulnerabilities are concentrated in rural areas and specific provinces, notably Newfoundland and Labrador, where oil and gas sectors are critical to government revenue.

• Atlantic Canada has successfully decoupled its GDP growth from greenhouse gas emissions, making it a leader in this area within Canada.
• The region faces high fiscal and economic risks due to its dependence on declining fossil fuel sectors, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. In Newfoundland and Labrador, oil and gas exports accounted for 11% of provincial merchandise exports in 2020 and represented one-sixth of government revenues in 2018-2019.
• New Brunswick's economy is heavily tied to refined petroleum products, which represented 14% of the provincial GDP and 46% of international exports in 2020.
• The region possesses diverse natural resources and innovation hubs, including offshore wind potential in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia; smart grid expertise in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; and battery storage in Nova Scotia.
• Transition-related companies in Atlantic Canada are generally smaller, younger, and less profitable than those in other parts of Canada, with limited access to capital. As of 2021, the region had 56 such companies, with nearly two-thirds located in Nova Scotia.
• Labor vulnerabilities are concentrated in specific communities and sectors. In Newfoundland and Labrador, 5.8% of the workforce is in vulnerable sectors (oil and gas), the highest rate in the region. Specific towns like Belledune, New Brunswick, are heavily dependent on the last remaining coal plant.
• There is a geographic and demographic mismatch between growth opportunities and workforce readiness. Most transition companies are located in provincial capitals, while vulnerable workers are often in rural areas. Additionally, Black Nova Scotians face a higher unemployment rate (16.2%) compared to the general population in Nova Scotia (10%).

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (n.d.). CANADA ATLANTIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Atlantic-profile-FR.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. CANADA ATLANTIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité. n.d. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Atlantic-profile-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=CANADA ATLANTIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité |url=https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Atlantic-profile-FR.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitutendcanada, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{CANADA ATLANTIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, url = {https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Atlantic-profile-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }