News release

Nova Scotia a Leader in Reducing Greenhouse Gases, Advancing Sustainable Prosperity

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)

Nova Scotia is on track to beat its 2020 goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 10 per cent below 1990 levels. Emissions are already down by 17 per cent.

"Our greenhouse gas reductions demonstrate the effectiveness of our made-in-Nova Scotia approach to addressing climate change," said Environment Minister Margaret Miller. "This success is linked to our equivalency agreement with the federal government to reduce emissions in the electricity sector, and many other sustainable practices and initiatives underway in our province."

In August 2015 Nova Scotia joined New England governors and eastern Canadian premiers to commit to reducing the region's emissions to 35-45 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030.

"Efforts are underway across government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by producing cleaner energy, protecting our air, water and variety of species, greener building practices, promoting local food, developing active transportation and sustainable management of our natural resources," Ms. Miller said.

The 2016-2017 Budget is helping to improve the environment in the following ways:

  • by investing $825,000 this year in the Connect2 program and other sustainable transportation-related projects that advance sustainable transportation by connecting residents with each other and community hubs

  • by investing $12.2 million in energy efficiency programs for those with low incomes for qualified homeowners and continuing funding for the HomeWarming program

  • by investing at least $350,000 this year in ways to incorporate intermittent renewable energy

  • by committing $150,000 this year to support tidal innovation funding projects that reduce costs and increase Nova Scotia's competitiveness in the global marketplace. Total funding of $450,000 will be available to companies for three years

  • by contributing toward the cost of high priority municipal projects through the Sustainable Practices/Provincial Capital Assistance Program that supports municipal green building practices

  • by investing $100,000 in the Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps to provide more jobs for summer students, including First Nations youth

"This funding provides meaningful work, whether it's stream restoration, clean tech research, or land protection," said Scott Skinner, executive director of Clean Foundation, which oversees the program for the province. "You get hands-on experience and an understanding of what is needed to protect our air, land and water and to innovate for a sustainable future. The program prepares students through career exposure, skills building, and mentorships to be able to take advantage of the green economy and help lead it."

The minister tabled a report on the province's work on environmental goals and sustainable prosperity in the legislature today, May 3. The report is posted www.novascotia.ca/nse/egspa/.

More examples of how the province is reducing greenhouse gas emissions follow this release.


The following is a list of other ways that the province is reducing greenhouse gas emissions:

  • by protecting 12.26 per cent of Nova Scotia's landmass the province met its goal under the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act to protect at least 12 per cent of its landmass. Wild spaces play a crucial part in responding to climate change, by capturing and storing carbon dioxide and by producing oxygen

  • through the 2014 Equivalency Agreement to reduce coal-fired greenhouse gas, provincial regulations provide equivalent or better emission reduction compared to the federal regulations

  • by lowering nitrogen oxide emissions by 40 per cent the province improved Nova Scotia's air quality, surpassing the target of 28 per cent below 2000 emissions by 2015

  • by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through aggressive renewable energy targets the province exceeded its target of 25 per cent renewable electricity in 2015 and is on track to meet the 2020 goal of 40 per cent

  • by installing new community solar projects in public buildings across the province

  • by reducing greenhouse gases from the province's waste sector by 30 per cent since 2002. When organic matter decomposes in a landfill it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Nova Scotia's disposal rate is 50 per cent lower than the Canadian average. More than 4,000 people work in solid waste-resource management

  • by promoting innovation through globally competitive energy research and development such as the Marine-renewable Energy Act, new in-stream tidal Feed-in Tariff and agreements to fund innovation research projects

  • by laying the groundwork for private energy vendors to be able to sell their renewable electricity directly to consumers, the province is beginning to allow consumers to choose from whom they purchase electricity and what kind of electricity they buy

  • by legally requiring Nova Scotia Power to invest in energy efficiency when it is the most cost-effective for ratepayers

  • by making efficient LED streetlights the law in Nova Scotia

  • by encouraging the buying and eating of local food through the Select Nova Scotia marketing program that increases consumer awareness and, thanks to strong help from industry partners, makes local goods easier to identify. This helps reduce greenhouse gases linked to transporting goods from other areas

  • because much of our Nova Scotia's economy is based on the sustainable use of our natural resources the province is continuing to implement The Path We Share, A Natural Resources Strategy with sustainable resource development being its overarching goal