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The report finds that heat pumps are the most economical heating and cooling option for the majority of Canadian households over their system life cycle, particularly in cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. Despite this economic advantage, adoption remains low due to behavioral, economic, and structural barriers, including high initial costs, lack of consumer confidence, and complex government rebate programs. The document argues that heat pumps are critical for both decarbonizing residential buildings and increasing resilience against extreme heat, which has caused significant mortality in regions like British Columbia. It recommends that governments maintain financial supports, simplify application processes through 'one-stop shops', implement indoor maximum temperature limits in building codes, and mandate high-efficiency, non-polluting systems in new constructions where electrically-powered heating is most cost-effective.

The research finds that human-induced climate change significantly increased the intensity and probability of extreme fire weather in eastern Canada in 2023, particularly in Québec, where the cumulative severity of the fire season was approximately 50% more intense and at least seven times more likely to occur.

The author discusses the immediate impacts of climate-driven wildfires in North America, specifically the health risks associated with particulate matter and the necessity of implementing binding emission reductions and adaptation strategies in Canada.

The report argues that federal funding from Budget 2023 can help provinces modernize electricity grids and reduce the cost of transitioning to net zero. While electricity rates may rise modestly, the shift to more efficient electric technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles is projected to lower average household energy spending by 12% by 2050. The authors emphasize that provinces should adopt targeted policy tools, such as means-tested fixed charges, to ensure energy affordability for low- and middle-income households.

The report argues that federal investments in clean electricity will lower overall energy expenses for Canadians by 2050, despite modest increases in electricity rates, provided that provinces implement targeted affordability measures for low-income households.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment advocates for the Clean Electricity Regulations to ensure a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, emphasizing the need for interim targets and the removal of exemptions for emitting assets. The statement highlights that Canada's electricity sector was the sixth largest source of domestic greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. It links the phase-out of coal and gas to significant health benefits, noting that coal causes severe respiratory and neurological issues, while gas plants are associated with adverse birth outcomes and increased hospital admissions for the elderly.

The report examines the 'Maritimes anomaly,' where New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have achieved significantly higher heat pump adoption rates than the rest of Canada. It attributes this success to a combination of high energy poverty, a moderate Atlantic climate, existing institutional commitments to energy efficiency, and aggressive financial incentives. The document highlights the importance of 'stacking' provincial and federal grants and warns against the rise of unreliable installers.

The report analyzes why New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have seen a surge in heat pump installations compared to the rest of Canada. It attributes this 'anomaly' to a combination of moderate climates, high energy poverty, existing electrical infrastructure, and aggressive financial incentives. The study highlights the role of established energy efficiency agencies and the effectiveness of combining heat pump rebates with broader home energy audits. It also notes challenges such as unreliable installers and administrative bottlenecks, offering lessons for scaling electrification across Canada.

Clean Energy Canada and the Canadian Climate Institute advocate for the rapid finalization of the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) to provide investment certainty for non-emitting generation. They support a flexible performance standard and an emissions pooling approach but warn against excessive flexibility that could incentivize the continued use of natural gas as a baseload resource. The authors recommend a performance standard of no more than 60 tonnes of CO2 per GWh and oppose extending the End of Prescribed Life (EoPL) beyond 20 years to avoid stranded assets and prolonged emissions.

The report examines the opportunity to phase out residential central air conditioners in Canada in favor of heat pumps. It argues that because the two technologies are mechanically similar, a market transformation strategy could bypass significant adoption barriers. The authors project that installing heat pumps instead of central air conditioners from 2025 to 2035 would result in C$12.6 billion in net benefits, including C$10.4 billion in energy bill savings and a reduction of 19.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. The document identifies barriers such as low consumer familiarity, high upfront costs, and emergency replacement cycles, and proposes implementation routes including national equipment mandates, building code updates, and upstream incentives for distributors.

The report examines the potential for decarbonizing Canada's residential building sector by replacing central air conditioners with heat pumps. It identifies five primary barriers to adoption—lack of familiarity, the infrequent nature of HVAC replacement, short decision windows during emergencies, limited stock, and higher initial costs. The authors model a scenario where all new central air conditioners are replaced by heat pumps from 2025 to 2035, projecting a net benefit of 12.6 billion CAD, including 10.4 billion CAD in energy bill savings and a reduction of 19.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The document proposes several policy interventions, including national equipment regulations, updated building codes, and upstream incentives for distributors and manufacturers, while highlighting the importance of energy justice for low-income tenants and vulnerable populations.

The document asserts that Canada's reliance on oil, gas, and coal leaves it vulnerable to global market volatility and geopolitical shocks, despite being a major producer. It argues that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are now more cost-effective than fossil fuels and can provide long-term price stability because they do not require input fuels. The brief highlights Canada's existing hydroelectric capacity as a key asset for balancing variable renewables and suggests that electrifying transport and heating will further reduce exposure to fossil fuel price spikes. It concludes that prioritizing investments in flexible, integrated electricity grids and energy efficiency is essential for achieving a non-emitting electricity grid by 2035 and ensuring affordable energy security.

The document asserts that Canada's reliance on oil, gas, and coal exposes it to global market volatility and geopolitical risks, as evidenced by record-high fuel prices in 2022. It argues that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are now more cost-effective than fossil fuels and provide long-term price stability because they do not require input fuels. The brief highlights Canada's existing hydroelectric capacity and transmission infrastructure as key assets for integrating variable renewables. It recommends accelerating the electrification of transportation and heating, improving interprovincial grid connectivity, and investing in energy storage to achieve a non-emitting electricity grid by 2035.

The document asserts that Canada lacks the necessary infrastructure to provide immediate LNG supplies to the EU following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It highlights that while the EU seeks short-term alternatives, it is simultaneously accelerating its 'Fit for 55' and 'REPower' plans to reduce gas demand and achieve climate neutrality. With new Canadian projects taking at least three years to complete, the author concludes that such investments risk becoming stranded assets as European demand declines.

The document examines the feasibility of using Canadian LNG to replace Russian gas in the EU, concluding that the 3-to-5-year timeline for building new Canadian facilities is incompatible with the EU's immediate needs and its medium-term goal of phasing out gas by 2025-2027.

The report identifies four critical barriers to Canada's electricity transition: misaligned federal climate policies, lack of provincial institutional coordination, potential electricity rate increases, and insufficient interregional connectivity. To overcome these, it advocates for a combination of federal carbon pricing reform, the implementation of national performance standards, and the use of negotiated agreements where federal funding is tied to provincial governance reforms. Key recommendations include clarifying the mandates of provincial regulators to include climate goals, developing comprehensive energy plans, and utilizing the tax base rather than just electricity rates to fund infrastructure and support low-income households.

The report identifies four critical policy challenges in Canada's transition to a net zero electricity system by 2035: misalignment of federal climate policy, lack of coordination among provincial institutions, potential upward pressure on electricity rates, and weak incentives for interregional grid integration. To address these, the authors propose a framework of 'electric federalism' involving strengthened carbon pricing, the implementation of performance standards, and the use of government tax bases to fund infrastructure investments to protect low-income ratepayers. The report emphasizes the need for provincial regulators to have mandates explicitly aligned with climate goals and suggests that the federal government use negotiated agreements—similar to health transfers—to provide financial support conditional on provincial policy reforms.

The report analyzes how Canadian provinces are positioned to navigate the net zero transition, focusing on 'demand-creation' sectors. It identifies a performance gap between the four largest provinces—British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta—which are leading in innovation and investment, and smaller provinces that are just beginning to develop these markets. The document provides five strategic recommendations for provincial and federal governments to build investor confidence, connect innovators with buyers, support rural and Indigenous communities, leverage high-potential companies, and increase R&D investment.

The report analyzes how Canadian provinces are positioned to benefit from the global shift toward a net-zero economy, identifying leaders and laggards in the creation of clean-growth enterprises. It highlights that while Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta lead in company creation and investment, other provinces show varying levels of progress. The document outlines ten promising transition markets—including clean electricity, batteries, and hydrogen—and provides five strategic recommendations for provincial and federal governments to enhance competitiveness, attract private investment, and ensure a just transition for vulnerable rural and Indigenous communities.

The report presents a business case for investing in community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and scientific rigour compared to conventional public sector monitoring. It identifies a critical data gap, noting that 100 of Canada's 167 sub-watersheds lack sufficient data to report on health. Through case studies in the Lake Winnipeg basin, the Kaska Dena ancestral territory, and the Annapolis River, the document demonstrates that CBWM can reduce costs (e.g., a 3.4:1 expense difference in the Lake Winnipeg case) and integrate Traditional Knowledge. The author argues that the current 'non-profit starvation cycle'—driven by short-term, competitive grants—is incompatible with the long-term nature of environmental monitoring and recommends a 5-year core funding model to ensure data continuity and support Canada's climate and conservation targets.