Net-zero for Canada: An open-method modeling approach

• Canadian net-zero scenarios are examined using an open-method modeling approach. • Net-zero in Canada demands major economy-wide technological transformation. • Current policies are not commensurate with Canada’s net-zero ambitions. Canada is a major oil- and gas-producing country that has committed into law an ambitious goal: net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions economy-wide by 2050. In this work, transition dynamics for Canada are examined across several net-zero GHG emissions scenarios with detailed policy representation using the open-source Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM). To our knowledge, this study is the first modeling analysis of Canadian net-zero GHG emissions scenarios with extensive policy representation and detailed sensitivity analysis. A major contribution of our open-method modeling approach is making our entire analysis publicly available to facilitate vetting, replicability, precise comparability with other studies, and modification by others to explore additional scenarios. Our results show that net-zero achievement in Canada would demand major technological transformation across all sectors of the economy. Scenarios presented herein highlight considerable gaps between Canada’s current policy actions and its net-zero ambitions. Indeed, the largest gaps between current-policy and net-zero scenarios pertain to rates of end-use electrification, buildout of power sector capacity, deployment of carbon dioxide removal, and accompanying reductions in production and consumption of fossil fuels. The results also highlight the importance of effective policy implementation and the variation in transition dynamics attributable to socioeconomic and technological assumptions, carbon dioxide removal scalability, and non-CO 2 mitigation options.