Getting Where We Need to Go: Net-zero transport in Canada

The document outlines the economic, health, and social benefits of transitioning Canada's passenger transport sector to net-zero. It highlights that while ZEV sales are increasing, Canada remains heavily dependent on personal vehicles due to zoning laws and a preference for light-duty trucks. The brief proposes a shift toward active transport, public transit, and ZEVs to reduce emissions, lower household costs, and create jobs in battery manufacturing and transit infrastructure.

• Canada's transportation emissions remained high in 2022, representing 22% of national emissions, with passenger transport (excluding freight) accounting for more than 50% of that figure.
• Despite a low overall population density, 82% of Canadians live in urban areas, suggesting that the current reliance on cars is driven by urban planning and zoning policies rather than physical geography.
• Transitioning to a clean transport sector could create significant employment, potentially employing 1.6 million people by 2050, including up to 250,000 jobs in the ZEV and battery manufacturing industry by 2030 in Ontario and Quebec.
• ZEV passenger cars are more cost-effective than fossil-fuel alternatives over an 8-year life cycle, with savings estimated at over CAD 1,000 per year according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
• Air pollution from fossil-fuelled vehicles is linked to significant health costs and mortality in Canada, with a 2021 study estimating 15,300 premature deaths annually costing CAD 114 billion.
• Recent trends in Canadian vehicle sales show a conflict between ZEV growth and a preference for larger vehicles; ZEVs made up 16.5% of new light vehicle sales in Q3 2024, but 70% of new passenger vehicle sales in 2022 were light-duty trucks.

APA

Haig,, S. (2025). Getting Where We Need to Go: Net-zero transport in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/net-zero-transport-canada

Chicago

Haig,, Steven. Getting Where We Need to Go: Net-zero transport in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/net-zero-transport-canada.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haig, |first1=Steven |title=Getting Where We Need to Go: Net-zero transport in Canada |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=17 March 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/net-zero-transport-canada |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haig2025getting, author = {Haig,, Steven}, title = {{Getting Where We Need to Go: Net-zero transport in Canada}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/net-zero-transport-canada}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }