“Canada is taking action to confront the climate emergency and achieve our environmental goals, while ensuring our transportation system continues to be the backbone of a thriving economy.”
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez
Canada’s transportation system connects us to the world, supporting our supply chains and driving our economy. This report illustrates how Transport Canada is becoming a leader in addressing climate change while promoting reliable, affordable, and sustainable transportation, on course to achieve our 2030 climate commitments and equally on track to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Transport Canada is working collaboratively with federal partners and other levels of government, industry, private-sector organizations, researchers, and international associates to undertake sustainable action in reducing these impacts. Managing climate risks is a key component of Transport Canada initiatives in supporting trade and transportation networks, both at home and abroad.
Taking action on our waters, on our land and in our air
Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan is a road-map for Canada in achieving 40-45% emissions reductions below 2005 levels by 2030. The transportation sector accounts for 22% of Canada’s emissions, making it a key sector of focus.
Action on our waters
Canada has more coastline than any other country. It is urgent that we mitigate environmental impacts while ensuring supply chain resiliency.
- As part of its nine-year, $2 billion investment, Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan is introducing a ban on heavy fuel oil and an emissions control initiative to promote the use of cleaner fuels and pollution-limiting technology.
- Transport Canada is working with government at all levels to develop a Marine Climate Action Plan.This series of collaborative actions will drive down emissions in the entire marine eco-system, as a result of incentives associated with both marine vessels and port operations.
- The 2022 Canadian Green Shipping Corridors Framework was supported in the 2023 federal budget with $165.4 million for Transport Canada in establishing this program. This will support the development of green shipping corridors by offering funding to incentivize the launch of the next generation of clean ships, deploy green technology at our ports, and assist ports in attracting low-emission,low-noise vessels.
- Transport Canada’s Clean Marine Research, Deployment and Development Program, is funding clean vessel research and demonstration projects, including Canada’s first electric tug design.
- Canada is moving to designate an Emissions Control Area (ECA) in Canadian Arctic waters to protect this unique eco-system.
Action on our lands
Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan includes making significant investments in transit and supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Sales targets and requirements are aimed at ZEVs making up 100% of new light-duty vehicles sales by 2035, and 100% of new medium and heavy-duty vehicle sales by 2040.
Related initiatives include:
- Ensuring ZEV’s are more affordable and available across Canada, supported by a country-wide network of charging and refueling stations.
- Building public confidence in ZEV’s through purchase incentives such as Transport Canada’s $547.5M Incentives for Medium and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (iMHZEV) Program.
- Transport Canada’s Clean Rail RD&D Program provides funding to support the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG), and/or the criteria for air contaminants (CAC) emissions from Canada’s rail sector.
Action on our air
Canada’s 2022 Aviation Climate Action Plan, sets a vision of net-zero Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2050 for Canada’s aviation sector. It includes a goal of 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use by 2030. In conjunction with government and private sector stakeholders, Transport Canada is assisting in the development of a SAF blueprint for Canada to meet targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050.
- Many Canadian airports are participating in the Net-Zero Challenge of Environment and Climate Change Canada, which encourages businesses to develop and implement plans to transition facilities and operations to net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Transport Canada is working with Government to improve accountability in Canada’s air sector through Bill C-52, Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in the Transportation System Act.
The path we're on – Canada leading the world
In addition to driving down emissions domestically, it is also essential that strategic partnerships are established internationally, with both governments and the private sector in reaching our climate objectives.
- Canada joined more than 150 other countries in 2023 to endorse the adoption of a new IMO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy, which includes a goal of net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping around 2050.
- In 2023, Transport Canada hosted the first meeting of the Canada-U.S. ZEV Task Force with a vision to “accelerate the achievement of 100% ZEV sales for light-duty vehicles and increase the supply of and demand for zero emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles”.
- Transport Canada also co-chairs several initiatives of the Clean Energy Ministerial, such as The Electric Vehicle Initiative, which brings together international expertise to accelerate the transition to zero emission.
Transport Canada will continue to deliver on the commitments made in the Emissions Reduction Plan, to develop and implement sustainable and significant climate action plans for the marine, rail and aviation sectors.
Taking Action on the Environment
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