Canada’s Low-Carbon Energy Innovation Policy Database
Welcome to the national database of assessments of policies and factors that directly or indirectly impact low-carbon innovation across Canada’s provinces and territories. This resource is part of the Pollution Probe and QUEST Canada Low-Carbon Energy Innovation (LCEI) Initiative, which aimed to analyze both the challenges and the enabling conditions that support low-carbon innovation in Canada’s energy sector.
The database is organized into four policy areas, further divided into 12 topics, 26 metrics, and 52 sub-metrics. Each sub-metric is assessed using a ‘yes/partly/no’ system to evaluate how specific policies and conditions support low-carbon energy innovation in each jurisdiction. Use this tool to explore and filter data by province, policy area, or innovation topic.
Note: This database reflects policies and programs in place as of February 2025. Policies introduced after that date are not yet included.
Table Legend and Definitions
Each entry in this interactive table corresponds to one or more policies, programs, or factors that impact Canada’s low-carbon energy innovation landscape. The database is structured around four key policy areas, reflecting the essential conditions that support a clean energy transition.
Use the drop-downs below to learn more about each policy area and how the topics, metrics, and sub-metrics are built into the filters.
Policy Area 1: Enabling Net-Zero Energy Policies
This area measures whether jurisdictions have set clear 2030 and 2050 climate targets aligned with net-zero, established accountability mechanisms to track progress, developed sector-specific climate action plans, and allocated industrial carbon pricing revenues toward achieving net-zero goals. These elements signal long-term policy certainty, encouraging investment and innovation in low-carbon solutions.
| Topics | Metrics | Sub-metrics |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Climate Leadership | 1.1.1 Jurisdictional Net-Zero Policies and Targets | 1.1.1.1 A jurisdictional climate change mitigation policy has been in place since at least 2015, or an act is in effect (Policy/Act). |
| 1.1.1.2 The 2030 climate target is the same or more ambitious than the national target (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.1.1.3 The climate plan aligns with the 2030 GHG target. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.1.1.4 A jurisdiction net-zero climate signal set for 2050. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.1.1.5 A clear climate plan that aligns with the 2050 net-zero target. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.1.2 Demonstrated Accountability on Climate Plan | 1.1.2.1 There is an accountability report for the climate plan. (Yes/No) | |
| 1.1.2.2 The frequency of publishing the accountability reports (N/A, Yearly, every 2 years, every 3 years, every 4 years, every 5 years) | ||
| 1.2 Sectoral Climate Leadership | 1.2.1 Electricity Plan | 1.2.1.1 A jurisdictional electricity mitigation policy or act is in place. (Yes/No) |
| 1.2.1.2 The electricity plan aligns with net-zero targets. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.2.1.3 The jurisdiction sets a clear decarbonization path for electric utilities. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.2.2 Hydrogen Plan | 1.2.2.1 A jurisdictional low-carbon hydrogen mitigation policy is in place. (Yes/No) | |
| 1.2.2.2. The hydrogen plan aligns with net-zero targets. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.2.3 Transportaion Plan | 1.2.3.1 A jurisdictional transportation mitigation policy is in place. (Yes/No) | |
| 1.2.3.2. The transportation plan aligns with net-zero targets. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.2.4 Industry Plan | 1.2.4.1 A jurisdictional Industry mitigation policy is in place. (Yes/No) | |
| 1.2.4.2. The Industry plan aligns with net-zero targets. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.3 Industrial Carbon Pricing | 1.3.1 Carbon Pricing Mechanisms: Industry | 1.3.1.1 The jurisdiction has an industrial carbon pricing mechanism: An output-based carbon pricing system.(Yes/No/Medium (if the price is lower than the federal level)) |
| 1.3.1.2 The industrial carbon pricing revenue is allocated towards achieving net-zero goals. (Yes/No) | ||
| 1.3.1.3 There is a clear plan for the industrial carbon pricing revenues to achieve net-zero goals. (Yes/No) |
TOPIC DEFINITIONS
1.1 Climate Leadership
The climate leadership topic refers to the jurisdiction’s actions to reduce GHG emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It evaluates whether a jurisdiction has developed clear policies to mitigate climate change by 2030 and 2050. This includes assessing whether the jurisdiction has established ambitious GHG reduction targets and can be held accountable for its policies. A jurisdiction receives a high score if it has a legally mandated climate mitigation plan, its 2030 climate target is at least as ambitious as the national level, its climate plan aligns with the 2030 GHG targets, net-zero climate signal set for 2050 aligns with a plan that and regularly published accountability reports.
1.2 Sectoral Climate Leadership
The climate leadership topic refers to the jurisdiction’s actions to reduce GHG emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It evaluates whether a jurisdiction has developed clear policies to mitigate climate change by 2030 and 2050. This includes assessing whether the jurisdiction has established ambitious GHG reduction targets and can be held accountable for its policies. A jurisdiction receives a high score if it has a legally mandated climate mitigation plan, its 2030 climate target is at least as ambitious as the national level, its climate plan aligns with the 2030 GHG targets, net-zero climate signal set for 2050 aligns with a plan that and regularly published accountability reports.
1.3 Industrial Carbon Pricing
The carbon pricing mechanisms topic evaluates whether the jurisdiction allocates revenue from industrial carbon pricing to support net-zero goals.
Jurisdictions receive a high score if they have an industrial carbon pricing mechanism, allocate the revenue toward net-zero objectives, and have a clear plan for using these funds to achieve net-zero targets.
Policy Area 2: Enabling Conditions for Energy Innovation
This area measures whether jurisdictions have market structures and regulatory frameworks that support low-carbon innovation. It looks at the competitiveness of gas and electricity markets, the presence of advanced regulatory systems that incentivize innovation, and the adoption of policies that enable new energy services and technologies, such as smart meters, advanced pricing, and efficiency programs.
| Topics | Metrics | Sub-metrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 Energy market structure | 2.1.1 Energy Market: Supply | 2.1.1.1 The jurisdiction has a competitive electricity generation. (Yes/No) |
| 2.1.1.2 The jurisdiction has bilateral contract options for electricity. (Yes/No) | ||
| 2.1.1.3 The jurisdiction has a competitive gas structure. (Yes/No) | ||
| 2.1.2 Energy Market: Retail | 2.1.2.1 Retail: Customers may choose retailers for electricity.(Yes/No) | |
| 2.1.3.1 Advanced rate regulatory systems. (Yes/No) | ||
| 2.1.3 Energy Market: Regulatory | 2.1.3.1 Advanced rate regulatory systems. (Yes/No) | |
| 2.2 Supporting policies for the energy transition | 2.2.1 Regulatory Framework: Electricity | 2.2.1.1 A smart meters installation (Yes/No/Pilot) |
| 2.2.1.2 Advanced pricing systems (Yes/No/Pilot) | ||
| 2.2.1.3 Net metering programs (Yes/No/Pilot) | ||
| 2.2.1.4 Other DER policies (Yes/No/Pilot) | ||
| 2.2.1.5 Net-Zero resources for DER (Yes/No) | ||
| 2.2.2 Regulatory Framework: Thermal | 2.2.2.1 The jurisdiction offers heating options through electricity or a hybrid gas and electricity system. (Yes/No/Pilot) | |
| 2.2.2.2 The jurisdiction has low carbon gas retail targets (e.g. an RNG target). (Yes/No) | ||
| 2.2.2.3 The jurisdiction has policies for low-carbon thermal heating (Yes/No) | ||
| 2.2.3 Regulatory Framework: Conservation | 2.2.3.1 Efficiency Canada's overall energy efficiency score (maximum 100 points, 2024) |
TOPIC DEFINITIONS
2.1 Energy Market Structure
This topic assesses the level of competitiveness in electricity and gas markets.
2.2 Supporting policies for the energy transition
This topic evaluates energy transition policies, including electricity, thermal energy, and energy efficiency measures.
Policy Area 3: Enabling Energy Innovation R&D, Deployment, and Implementation
This area measures whether jurisdictions support low-carbon energy innovation through dedicated R&D and deployment policies, innovation funding, and regulatory mandates for efficiency and environmental considerations. It also looks at the use of regulatory tools like sandboxes and the presence of an active innovation ecosystem that helps new technologies move from pilot to implementation.
| Topics | Metrics | Sub-metrics |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Enabling innovation: Policies | 3.1.1 Policies for promoting Energy Innovation: R&D (TRL 1-6) | 3.1.1.1 The jurisdiction has policies that promote energy innovation through R&D (TRL 1-6). |
| 3.1.1.2 The jurisdiction has established policies for assessing the energy innovation technology needs. | ||
| 3.1.2 Policies for promoting Energy Innovation: Deployment (TRL 7-9) | 3.1.2.1 The jurisdiction has policies that promote energy innovation through deployment (TRL 7-9). | |
| 3.1.3 Types of Funding Mechanisms for Net-Zero Energy Innovation | 3.1.3.1 There are different types of funding mechanisms for energy innovation. | |
| 3.2 Enabling innovation: Regulatory | 3.2.1 Energy Regulatory Mandate (law) | 3.2.1.1 The act respecting energy regulation (e.g., the Electricity Act) includes a mandate for innovation. (Yes/Partly/No) |
| 3.2.1.2 The act respecting energy regulation (e.g., the Electricity Act) includes an energy efficiency or DSM mandate. (Yes/No) | ||
| 3.2.1.3 The act respecting energy regulation (e.g., the Electricity Act) includes environmental considerations for decision-making. (Yes/Partly/No) | ||
| 3.2.2 Regulatory Innovation Tools | 3.2.2.1 Different regulatory tools that promote innovation (Yes/No: yes >3, for small jurisdictions >1) | |
| 3.2.2.2 Regulatory Trials (part of the Sandbox) (Yes/No) | ||
| 3.2.3 Enquiry Services (part of the Sandbox) | 3.2.3.1 The jurisdiction provides enquiry services, enabling the innovator to receive assistance from the regulator. (Yes/No) | |
| 3.3 Enabling Innovation: Ecosystem | 3.3.1 Third-Party Organizations for Energy Innovation | 3.3.1.1 Third-party organizations involved in energy innovation (Yes/No: yes >5, for small jurisdictions >3) |
| 3.3.2 A Wide Ecosystem of Innovation (Hubs/Labs/Centers: (part of the Sandbox)) | 3.3.2.1 The jurisdiction has hubs/networks/labs/centers that promote innovation (Yes/No: yes >5, for small jurisdictions >3) |
TOPIC DEFINITIONS
3.1 Enabling innovation: Policies
This topic assesses whether a jurisdiction has policies promoting energy innovation, including support for R&D, technology deployment, net-zero technology assessment, and diverse funding mechanisms.
3.2 Enabling innovation: Regulatory
This topic evaluates whether a jurisdiction’s regulatory framework supports innovation. It assesses whether the framework includes mandates encouraging innovation, energy efficiency, and environmental considerations, provides diverse regulatory tools, allows for regulatory experimentation, and offers enquiry services.
3.3 Enabling Innovation: Ecosystem
This topic evaluates whether the jurisdiction has a supportive ecosystem for energy innovation, demonstrated by innovation hubs, partnerships, networks, and collaboration with third-party organizations.
Policy Area 4: Building the Comprehensive Needs of Innovation: Workforce, Collaboration, Reconciliation, and Equity
This area captures complementary policies that support an inclusive energy transition. It looks at workforce development for net-zero skills, community engagement, Indigenous reconciliation initiatives, and climate policies focused on supporting low-income and marginalized communities. In this section, data is gathered and summarized, but policies are not assessed.
| Topics | Metrics | Sub-metrics |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Workforce needs policies | 4.1.1 Workforce Needs Policies for Achieving a Net-Zero Energy Future | 4.1.1.1 The jurisdiction has policies that direct the workforce to current needs to achieve a net-zero energy future. |
| 4.1.1.2 The jurisdiction has policies that direct the workforce to future needs to achieve a net-zero energy future. | ||
| 4.2 Community engagement strategies | 4.2.1 Community Engagement Policies for Achieving a Net-Zero Energy Future | 4.2.1.1 The jurisdiction has policies for engagement to achieve a net-zero future. |
| 4.3 Reconciliation policies | 4.3.1 Reconciliation Policies for Achieving a Net-Zero Energy Future | 4.3.1.1 The jurisdiction has energy-related Indigenous reconciliation policies to achieve a net-zero future. |
| 4.4 Low-income policies | 4.4.1 Equity Policies for Achieving a Net-Zero Energy Future | 4.4.1.1 The jurisdiction has low-income energy policies to achieve a net-zero future (Yes/No: Yes>5, for small jurisdictions, Yes>3) |
| 4.4.1.2 The jurisdiction has climate-related policies to help marginalized communities move towards a net-zero future (Yes/NoYes/No: Yes>5, for small jurisdictions, Yes>3). |
TOPIC DEFINITIONS
4.1 Workforce needs policies
This topic assesses how a jurisdiction prepares its current and future workforce for the net-zero transition.
4.2 Community engagement strategies
This topic includes policies encouraging active participation from diverse stakeholders through public education, consultations, and community involvement in energy and climate programs.
4.3 Reconciliation policies
This topic includes policies that support Indigenous participation in energy and climate initiatives.
4.4 Low-income policies
This topic includes policies supporting low-income households and marginalized communities in energy and climate initiatives.