Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act

The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (French: Loi canadienne sur la responsabilité en matière de carboneutralité) is an act of the Parliament of Canada which establishes an accountability and transparency framework for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Since the 1980s, Canada repeatedly set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

The legislation enshrines in statute the government's committment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The act requires the government to set national emissions reduction targets for 2035, 2040, 2045, 10 years in advance, alongside plans to achieve these goals.

The act does not place any requirements on climate change adapatation.

The Net-Zero Advisory Body is established by the act, with the purpose of advising the government on achieving and setting the targets under the act.

The 2035 target was published in December 2024 and sets a goal of 45-50% emissions reduction by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. The Net-Zero Advisory Body had proposed a target of 50-55%.

The legislation has been criticized by Christopher Campbell-Duruflé, an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, for not recognizing indigenous jurisdiction in climate policy.