Nova Scotia's Climate Act Review to Bypass Open Public Consultations
Nova Scotia plans to fulfill the mandatory five-year public review of its 2021 Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act through a 13-member advisory round table rather than open consultations, drawing criticism from legal experts and environmental groups who argue the process lacks transparency and broader community engagement.
Nova Scotia’s Environment Minister Tim Halman has announced that the province will conduct the mandatory five-year review of its Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act through meetings with an appointed 13-member advisory round table. The legislation, passed with all-party support in 2021, requires the environment minister to request a public review no later than five years after the act comes into force, setting a deadline of November 2026.
Halman stated that meeting with the advisory round table satisfies the legislative requirement for a public review. He indicated he would be willing to share what is discussed during those meetings with the broader public. However, critics argue this approach fails to meet the spirit of a public review. Tina Northrup, a staff lawyer at East Coast Environmental Law, said a proper review should invite feedback from all Nova Scotians through written submissions or community dialogue sessions. Northrup also cited the United Nations' statement that keeping global warming below 1.5 C has become impossible as a reason to re-evaluate climate commitments.
The act contains 28 goals. The environment department states that 13 are complete, although some were finished late. At least one goal has been confirmed as abandoned, while others—including zero-emission vehicle sales mandates, solid waste plans, and active transportation strategies—appear to have fallen by the wayside. Two key targets require transitioning the power grid to 80 per cent renewable sources and cutting greenhouse gas emissions at least 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Electricity is currently the biggest contributor to emissions in Nova Scotia, followed by transportation and buildings.
While Halman claims the province is on track to meet its 2030 targets, skeptics point to stagnant recent emissions reductions and a reliance on unbuilt wind farm projects. Marla MacLeod, director of programs at the Ecology Action Centre, suggested the review is an opportunity to extend the province’s outlook to 2035 and 2040. MacLeod also criticized the lack of detailed information in the annual progress report, noting the absence of an appendix detailing work done on each goal compared to previous years. Halman described the removal of the appendix as a formatting change, while MacLeod views it as a loss of transparency.
Concerns about long-term planning extend to building standards. Lorrie Rand, a building science specialist, noted that the province adopted new federal building codes for energy efficiency in 2025 but lacks commitments beyond 2027, creating uncertainty for the construction industry regarding long-term energy efficiency standards.