What Nova Scotia is Doing

Nova Scotia has legislated ambitious climate goals in the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act (PDF). Nova Scotia's climate change action plan outlines what government is doing to support progress toward reduced greenhouse gas emissions, responding to the impacts of climate change and fostering clean inclusive growth for all Nova Scotians.

Our Climate, Our Future - Nova Scotia's Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth (PDF)

Our Climate, Our Future - Nova Scotia's Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: French (PDF)

2023 Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and Climate Change Plan – Progress Report (PDF)

2023 Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and Climate Change Plan – Progress Report Appendix A: Progress on Commitments (PDF)

2023 Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and Climate Change Plan – Progress Report Appendix B: Initiatives Driving Sustainable Prosperity (PDF)

Legislation

The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act was passed in 2021. It contains 28 goals focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, growing the green and circular economies, improving the health and sustainability of Nova Scotia's environment, and moving Nova Scotia toward clean and renewable energy.

The Environment Act (PDF) was amended in November 2022 to create an output-based pricing system (OBPS) to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions from large emitters with regulations, standards and registration forms anticipated to follow in 2023. For more information, contact nsobps@novascotia.ca.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions — a vital part of the global effort to slow climate change. Most greenhouse gas emissions emitted in Nova Scotia come from the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity, transporting people and goods, and heating homes and buildings. Significant transformation is needed to shift away from fossil fuel and toward cleaner, renewable, and more efficient forms of energy.

Emissions Reduction Targets

The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act sets ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets:

  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 53% below 2005 levels by 2030
  • achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Climate Change Action Plan

Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia's Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth outlines how we will reach our 2030 target and put us on a pathway to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Adapting to Climate Change

The Government of Nova Scotia helps communities, businesses and other levels of government understand and respond to the impacts of climate change on communities, the economy, ecosystems and infrastructure by:

  • raising awareness and understanding of how the climate is changing, climate impacts, risks for Nova Scotia and opportunities to adapt through investments in climate data and research
  • supporting governments, communities and businesses to respond and prepare for climate change through training and learning, climate services, partnerships, and engagement
  • helping sectors, stakeholders and governments to identify adaptation options and lead multi-stakeholder climate adaptation initiatives

Some recent activities include:

  • increasing government capacity to anticipate and respond to the changing climate by working with provincial departments and their industry partners to develop and implement climate adaptation strategies (between May 2019 and September 2022, the Climate Adaptation Leadership Program was funded in part by the Government of Nova Scotia and Natural Resources Canada)
  • partnering with the Canadian Centre for Climate Services and other Atlantic Provinces to establish CLIMAtlantic, a non-profit organization that helps provide access to climate information and support its effective use in planning and decision-making
  • hosting a Nova Scotia node of CLIMAtlantic, including a Climate Services Specialist, to encourage the use of locally-relevant climate information in decision-making. For more information, please contact Alex Cadel, alex.cadel@novascotia.ca
  • completing a provincial climate change risk assessment on climate risks and opportunities in relation to the well-being of Nova Scotians