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Communiqué de presse

Why are We Limiting Our Ability to Achieve Net-Zero?

Nov 7, 2022

Why are We Limiting Our Ability to Achieve Net-Zero?

November 7, 2022Today, QUEST Canada launches its two-week-long awareness-raising campaign, asking policy makers, businesses, energy providers, energy sector decision-makers and Canadians from across the country, “Why are we limiting our ability to achieve net-zero?

Canada has set ambitious greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction targets, making international commitments to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, yet we’re not adequately pursuing all available local low and zero emission solutions.

Canada’s demand for electricity is projected to double, or even triple, by 2050.* Building on this foundation of clean electricity, Canada’s net-zero pathway still requires a suite of complementary local low-carbon energy solutions that are not being adequately pursued. The good news is that these energy solutions already exist. Unfortunately, many are currently being underutilized, such as district energy, biofuels and renewable natural gas. 

“What we really need is a more comprehensive net-zero dialogue. We must shift the conversation, acknowledging the need for urgency, by building on electrification with the inclusion of a diversity of local low-carbon energy solutions. On the ground, this means developing policy support for underutilized energy solutions, achieving regulatory reform, creating space for better integrated system planning, and closing the gap on the urban and rural divide.”
Tonja Leach

directrice générale, QUEST Canada

Local communities across Canada need to be able to implement practical solutions that meet their unique needs and challenges, supporting efforts to achieve net-zero as quickly as possible. Underutilized local low and zero emission energy options provide some of these solutions. 

“Achieving net-zero will require everyone as well as every low-carbon energy source in Canada working together. One technology is not going to provide everything we need everywhere in Canada; we’re going to need a portfolio of net-zero options that can scale and meet all our energy needs.”

Richard Carlson

Director, Energy Policy and Energy Exchange, Pollution Probe

Follow along as we make space for a more comprehensive net-zero dialogue, highlight underutilized energy sources, and share our thoughts on the practical solutions local communities across Canada require in order to reach their net-zero targets faster. A durable and just net-zero future is waiting. 

To learn more about our campaign, visit our site web or follow us on social media (@QUESTCanada). 

* “A healthy environment and a healthy economy plan”, Government of Canada, March 8, 2021, https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview/healthy-environment-healthy-economy.html

Why Are We Limiting our Ability to Achieve Net-Zero?
À propos de QUEST Canada

QUEST Canada est un organisme national à but non lucratif qui soutient les collectivités canadiennes dans leur cheminement vers la consommation nette zéro. Depuis 2007, nous facilitons les connexions, donnons du pouvoir aux champions communautaires et influençons les décideurs pour mettre en œuvre des systèmes énergétiques efficaces et intégrés qui répondent le mieux aux besoins des communautés et maximisent les opportunités locales. Nous développons des outils et des ressources, nous réunissons les parties prenantes et les détenteurs de droits et nous conseillons les décideurs - tout cela dans le but d'encourager et de permettre aux communautés de contribuer aux objectifs de consommation nette zéro du Canada. Pour en savoir plus sur QUEST Canada, visitez notre site Web : www.questcanada.org.

Contact presse

Pour organiser un entretien, veuillez contacter :

Melissa Schweyer Responsable de la communication
t : 866-494-2770 poste 704
e : [email protected]

Quotes

Tonja Leach Headshot

Tonja Leach, directrice générale de QUEST Canada

Lire la citation
“What we really need is a more comprehensive net-zero dialogue. We must shift the conversation, acknowledging the need for urgency, by building on electrification with the inclusion of a diversity of local low-carbon energy solutions. On the ground, this means developing policy support for underutilized energy solutions, achieving regulatory reform, creating space for better integrated system planning, and closing the gap on the urban and rural divide.”
Richard Carlson headshot

Richard Carlson, Director, Energy Policy and Energy Exchange at Pollution Probe

Lire la citation
“Achieving net-zero will require everyone as well as every low-carbon energy source in Canada working together. One technology is not going to provide everything we need everywhere in Canada; we’re going to need a portfolio of net-zero options that can scale and meet all our energy needs.”

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