Governments, businesses and other organizations around the world are committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. This initiative is spearheaded by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN IPCC), which asserts that global emissions must be net-zero by 2050 to keep global warming below 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels. The Government of Canada and several provinces, including all four in Atlantic Canada, have committed to the 2050 target. 

This is the first report in a seriesthat will examine and assess various economic aspects of the transition to a net-zero economy and what it means for Atlantic Canada. This report lays the groundwork by highlighting the climate change imperative, explaining policy and business drivers to achieve net-zero emissions, and providing a framework to analyze the economic implications for our region.