At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), countries are bringing forward their ambitious emission reduction targets. Yet, despite the significant representation of Canadian communities at COP26, Canada is only starting to understand that top-down policies and programs are not enough.

In Canada, the level of effort and transformation required — and the need for equity, diversity, and inclusion — requires a stronger understanding of these challenges at the community level. Communities are the front lines of change. 

L' Diverse Pathways to Net-Zero Initiative is a response to this need and it considers the critical role that Canadian communities play on the pathway to net-zero.

Buy-in from communities is essential to ensure the transition to net-zero is quickly and widely implemented. 

We need to better equip Canadian communities with the resources and capacity they need to contribute to the target and be a part of the solution. 

Our Research 

During the first phase of the Diverse Pathways initiative, we published the following research:

1. Literature Review

A review of literature that informs net-zero transition policies in Canada, published over the last three years, reinforces the critical role that communities have in achieving net-zero. It highlights that little consideration about the roles of, and implications for, communities has been considered in modelling, plans, and policy making to date. 

2. The Development of Community Archetypes

This research explores the first building blocks in the development of a comprehensive archetype framework for Canadian communities. It shows that community archetyping can be an effective tool to refine what resources and capacity is needed in Canadian communities on the pathway to net-zero.

Key Findings from the Literature Review

Understanding the transition means getting more granular. Despite acknowledging the reality of diverse pathways in Canada, models and recommendations tend to be aggregated at either national or provincial levels. As a result, local-level dynamics are not well understood and the role local governments play in accelerating or impeding transitions is neglected. A framework of community archetypes capturing important local characteristics and their contribution to diverse transition pathways initiates a deeper understanding.

While net-zero literature emphasizes the need for diverse transition pathways, it tends to conceptualize diversity at national and provincial levels of analysis. Unfortunately, this overlooks the role of communities in achieving net-zero. A complete picture must account for the diverse conditions facing local communities. 

Key Findings from the Community Archetypes Research

A Community Archetype Framework can help to inform the development of federal and provincial/territorial net-zero policies and programs reflecting the diversity of Canada’s communities.

“Canada is one of the most diverse nations in the world. The more than 4,000 communities within it are diverse in their political infrastructure, their needs for services, products, and communication, and their socio-economic composition.”

The following four criteria were identified as a priority to consider when identifying net-zero solutions for communities:

1. Population size
2. Population density
3. Jurisdiction/electricity system 
4. Net-zero economic impacts and opportunities

The archetypes consider economic, social, demographic, infrastructure, and energy factors. A series of community profiles has been developed to build understanding of the impact and implications of net-zero transition at the local level. Policies, programs, and investments that are tailored to the specific needs and context of each community type will facilitate more rapid decarbonization, allow them to overcome the barriers to adoption, and increase local understanding of and capacity to implement low-carbon projects.

The community archetypes report is the first building block in the development of a comprehensive archetype framework for Canada. The initial research and engagement identified the need for the refinement of existing criteria, as well as the development of additional criteria and indicators to provide more nuance and inclusivity to the archetype framework.

PROCHAINES ÉTAPES

These are early steps. We need to better understand how a suite of indicators can reflect and help guide communities as they undertake the transition. 

Research and extensive engagement are required to leverage community perspectives. The Diverse Pathways to Net Zero initiative aims to capture, champion, and communicate community pathways and achievements. Over the next three years, the project will fill a critical gap in moving net-zero transitions toward achievement.