nova scotia government trumpets record on environmental goals, eac critic not convinced
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environment minister tim halman answers questions from reporters about changes to the environmental assessment process during a news conference at one government place on thursday, may 8, 2025.
ryan taplin
/
the chronicle herald
the nova scotia environment department touted its progress on a bevy of plans and targets in its annual progress report.
“the environmental goals and climate change reduction act was developed almost four years ago, and great progress has been made on the act’s 28 goals since our government’s sustainable prosperity vision became the law in 2021,” reads a gushing introduction to the 39-page update from environment minister tim halman.
the minister said the act and the department’s clean growth action plan “chart a clear and ambitious path for nova scotia towards sustainable prosperity.”
that path will prepare for climate change impacts and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, he said, and provide “a future where our air, drinking water and environment continue to be protected.”
one of the best opportunities to make life better in nova scotia comes from clean energy, he wrote.
“we have some of the fastest, most consistent offshore wind speeds in the world and are on the edge of a clean energy breakthrough. we are ready to put wind to work through the wind west project, which would be a game-changer for the province, the region and the country.
“harnessing offshore wind can make nova scotia a clean energy powerhouse and bring jobs and investment to our communities.”
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halman said the government will also seek opportunities in solar, tidal, green hydrogen and other technologies to green the grid and ensure nova scotians have a reliable, secure source of energy.
“not only will clean energy help us meet our goal of being net zero by 2050, producing clean energy here will create good-paying jobs and make our economy stronger, while making us less dependent on having to import what we need.”
the report outlines progress on all 28 goals, starting with reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
“the most recent data shows that nova scotia’s emissions have been reduced by 38 per cent from 2005 levels,” the report reads, promising the province is on track for its 2030 target.
some wind turbines in the municipality of argyle in yarmouth county. more wind energy is on the way with another project. tina comeau
marla macleod, director of programs at the ecology action centre, says the report is more hype than substance.
“in general what i see in this report is a real lack of courage on the part of the government to fulfill their commitments,” macleod said.
“i’m seeing a lack of transparency,” she said. “the report is lengthy, but there are at least three strategy reports, feasibility studies, that are not out.”
macleod said the provincial active transportation strategy has not been made public, along with the regional transportation report by the joint regional transportation agency, which is now called link nova scotia, the environmental racism report, and panel recommendations and a referenced electric school bus feasibility study.
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the legislated goal of government supporting the well-being of nova scotians through active transportation by establishing a provincial active transportation strategy by 2023 is a glaring example of government’s lack of transparency, said macleod.
marla macleod, program director at the ecology action centre, says the environment department’s lengthy annual progress update on its goals shows that it has not hit several targets. – contributed
“there’s a provincial active transportation strategy that’s been done for at least a year that nobody has seen,” macleod said.
“there are a lot of community groups out there and (government likes) to highlight the work of community groups . . . but unless we have good information, we feel like we’re shut out of the conversation. this is going to take a ‘whole of society’ approach and i feel community organizations, other environmental groups, other levels of government are trying to do the right thing but unless we are all on the same page, we’re just spinning our wheels.
“this government seems to lack the courage to have mature conversations with people who might not agree with them. it’s ok to not agree but it isn’t ok to withhold data.”
macleod said the government doesn’t admit that it hasn’t done something several times throughout the report.
“the one about phasing out oil-fired heating equipment in new buildings by 2025, it’s now 2025 and they haven’t done it,” she said.
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“they cite affordability as a reason that they are not doing it but heating oil is notoriously expensive so that doesn’t make sense.
“the other thing that they are not on track to do is reach their protected areas target. the report cites they are at 13.75 per cent, the goal is 20 per cent by 2030, they protected zero per cent in the last 18 months and we haven’t finished (protecting) the places that were identified in the 2013 protected areas plan, and they haven’t started on protecting the new areas.
“they are just not on track to meet that goal.”
the department report ran out its recently announced plan to issue leases for five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, with a first call for bids by 2025, in its response to the legislated goal of providing 80 per cent of electricity needs with renewable energy by 2030.
the report says 40.5 per cent of the province’s electricity is currently supplied by renewable energy.
“there is a plan to hit our renewables target by 2030 and i hold out hope on that one,” macleod said.
“offshore wind has huge potential if we do it correctly but that won’t help us with our 2030 goal, that’s more of a long-term prospect, 10 years or so at least until the windmills are turning.”
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other goals among the 28 include developing and implementing a zero-emission vehicle mandate that ensures a minimum of 30 per cent of new vehicle sales for all personal vehicles in the province by 2030. only five per cent of all new vehicles purchased in the province in 2024 were zero emission.
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