QUEST Canada Publishes New Report Detailing How Canadian Communities Can Overcome Barriers to the Low-Carbon Energy Transition

August 17, 2023  –  Today, QUEST Canada published its newest report, Enabling Low Carbon Energy Projects For Investment. The report is part of a broader research project that aims to support Canadian communities as they overcome barriers associated with the low-carbon energy transition.

The research project, also named Enabling Low Carbon Energy Projects For Investment (ELCEPI), launched in 2022 with the original objective to resolve community barriers to aggregate low-carbon energy initiatives to unlock capital from investors. Through an extensive research and interview process, QUEST Canada discovered that many communities face significant barriers in the early stages of project conception and require more awareness and understanding relating to aggregation. As a result, the report scope was expanded to investigate barriers throughout a project’s entire life cycle. 

Early findings indicated that lower-income communities, particularly those with a history of marginalization and diversity, face unique challenges in project development. Findings also identified a disconnect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous projects. These conclusions significantly influenced the final report, whereby three recommendations were made to further low-carbon energy project investment in Canadian communities. 

The report recommends allyship with Indigenous peoples and efforts, whereby allies acknowledge the harms caused by colonization and support Indigenous leadership and direction. Allyship requires engaging in respectful and meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities, listening to guidance and recommendations, and incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into decision-making processes. 

The report also recommends institutionalizing the Leave No One Behind principle into all policies and practices. This entails incorporating the values and principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the formal structures and processes of government so that they become an integral part of culture and decision-making. 

The report concludes by acknowledging that significant funding is available to support low-carbon energy initiatives, however many projects are not investment-ready. To address this challenge, the report recommends the establishment of a catalyst which mobilizes existing organizations, ideas, and resources and takes advantage of available funding. 

This project is made possible with funding support from Scotiabank. 

For more information on this project, visit the Enabling Low Carbon Energy Projects For Investment project page and join QUEST Canada’s mailing list for future project updates.

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About QUEST Canada

QUEST Canada is a national non-profit that supports communities in Canada on their pathway to net-zero. Since 2007, we’ve been facilitating connections, empowering community champions and influencing decision-makers to implement efficient and integrated energy systems that best meet community needs and maximize local opportunities. We develop tools and resources, convene stakeholders and rights holders and advise decision-makers — all with the goal of encouraging and enabling communities to contribute to Canada’s net-zero goals.

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