Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act

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]

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

The legislation enshrines in statute the government's committment 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]

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]

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]