Together, we can make a difference.
Solving climate change is going to mean we all work together.
Climate Change Reports/Submissions
Submission to Energy and Utilities Board Re: NB Power Rate Application (January 2023)
Available in English. 20 pages. The Conservation Council’s submission, including recommendations, to the Energy and Utilities Board regarding NB Power’s general rate application. Review presentation slides.
Joint Letter: Recommendations for building the Atlantic Loop
Available in English. Four pages. This letter from the Conservation Council and Ecology Action Centre to federal ministers LeBlanc, Wilkinson and Freeland, regarding the Atlantic loop and our recommendations for achieving this important energy infrastructure.
National survey on clean electricity regulation
Available in English. 45 slides. This presentation provides an overview of the national survey commissioned by the Conservation Council looking at Canadians’ views on renewable energy, clean energy standards and more.
Joint Letter: Securing Robust Clean Electricity Regulations
Available in English. Four pages. The joint letter, signed on by the Conservation Council and our allies across the country, sent to Ministers Guilbeault and Wilkinson, containing our recommendations for an effective clean electricity standard policy.
Available in English and French. Two pages. Under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, provinces were required to submit their 2023-2026 carbon pricing plans to Environment and Climate Change Canada in September. The minister must now make a determination as to whether each plan meets the federal benchmark and implement the federal backstop in provinces that do not meet the benchmark. In this letter, we outline our concerns surrounding provincial plans for carbon pricing from 2023-2030.
Letters to Premiers on carbon pricing plans (Oct 2022)
Available in English and French. Three pages. Under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, provinces were required to submit their 2023-2026 carbon pricing plans to Environment and Climate Change Canada in September. The minister must now make a determination as to whether each plan meets the federal benchmark and implement the federal backstop in provinces that do not meet the benchmark. In this letter, we outline our concerns surrounding provincial plans for carbon pricing from 2023-2030.
Letter to Minister Holland on developing Clean Electricity Strategy (Sept 2022)
Available in English. Three pages. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick (CCNB) welcomes the Government’s five-year climate plan update, Our Pathway Towards Decarbonization and Climate Resilience: New Brunswick’s Climate Change Plan 2022 – 2027. This letter focuses on the commitment to develop a clean electricity strategy (see Appendix). We believe that a clean electricity strategy is fundamental to New Brunswick’s ability to transition to near zero emissions, which requires that we electrify our economy and our lives.
New Brunswickers Deserve Facts, Not Hype, On Liquefied Natural Gas (Briefing Note, August 2022)
Available in English and French. Five pages. This briefing note challenges Premier Blaine Higgs’ claims about converting the Saint John LNG import facility to an export terminal (and later hydrogen), the role New Brunswick can play in addressing Europe’s energy crisis caused by the Russian war in Ukraine, and the potential lifting of the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in New Brunswick. Published Aug. 3, 2022.
Available in English. Two pages. In this letter, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick requests that Hon. Steven Guilbeault exercise his authority pursuant to section 9(1) of the Impact Assessment Act (“IAA”) to designate the proposed Small Modular Reactor (SMR) demonstration project at Point Lepreau for a federal impact assessment.
Report: Electric School Bus Roundtable
Available in English. Five pages. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick held a roundtable on electrifying the province’s school bus fleet in the summer of 2022. Various stakeholders participated, including bus drivers, teachers, parents of students, health advocates, transportation experts, and government officials. This report provides a summary of the discussion, including the challenges, opportunities and solutions presented by participants.
The factors affecting social acceptance of renewable energy and transmission projects (May 2022)
Available in English. 62 pages. This final report outlines our research into public perceptions of factors influencing social acceptance of renewable energy and transmission projects in communities, derived from seven focus groups in March 2022.
- Download Dr. Comeau’s Executive Summary: English | French
- Download Dr. Comeau’s presentation slides
- Watch Dr. Comeau’s full webinar presented on May 24
CCNB Submission on Clean Electricity Standard (April 2022)
Available in English. 8 pages. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s response to the federal discussion paper on a clean electricity standard in support of a net-zero electricity sector.
Letter to Hon Dominic Leblanc on proposed Bay du Nord deep-water oil project (February 2022)
Available in English and French. 3 pages. In this letter, we outline our concerns surrounding the proposed Bay du Nord deep-water oil project and call on all New Brunswick Members of Parliament and Cabinet to reject this proposal in favour of clean and non-polluting energy.
Green Resilience Project Community Summary Report.
Available in English. 12 pages. This report summarizes the discussion and recommendations from the Conservation Council’s Green Resilience Community Conversation, a project which invited citizens to explore the connections between and solutions to climate change and income insecurity.
Submission: Updating New Brunswick’s Climate Action Plan, A Strategic Opportunity.
Available in English. 22 pages. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s submission to the provincial government as part of the climate action plan update.
Available in English. 15 pages. Read through our Dr. Louise Comeau’s presentation to the NB Federation of Woodlot Owners’ Your Forest In a Changing Climate Conference on how provincial climate policies will impact forest management in New Brunswick, the opportunity it presents, and recomendations for managing multiple climate and biodiversity priorities.
Available in English and French. 45 pages. Read through our presentation to the Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship on the need for sweeping electricity reform and better energy efficiency retrofit programs for New Brunswickers. Presented by our director of climate change and energy solutions, Dr. Louise Comeau, in the Legislative Council Chamber on Thursday, Jan 18, 2022. We urge MLA’s on the standing committee to take advantage of this opportunity to fill in the gaps in the current plan, particularly in regards to electricity policy and reform.
Available in English and French. Two pages. Our letter offers conservationists’ recommendations for advancing climate action during the upcoming legislative session. Our letter notes that the climate action plan for New Brunswick will reach its five-year mark this December and needs to be updated and reviewed. We urge Premier Higgs to take advantage of this opportunity to fill in the gaps in the current plan, particularly in regards to electricity policy and reform.
Available in English and French. Two pages. In this letter, we congratulate Minister Guilbeault on his appointment as Minister of Environment and Climate Change and bring to his attention the opportunity to shine internationally by strengthening Canada’s commitment to coal phase-out ahead of the COP meetings in November 2021.
Conservation Council’s July 2021 Survey Results: Public Understanding of Atlantic Electricity Issues
Available in English. 43 pages. This PowerPoint deck summarizes the findings of our Atlantic Canada-wide survey on the public’s understanding of electricity issues in our region, conducted in July 2021. You can read the survey questionnaire here: English | French
Conservation Council’s Letter to Minister Holland on Electricity Act Reform to achieve 80 per cent renewables by 2030
Available in English and French. Two pages. Our letter to Mike Holland, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, outlining the steps New Brunswick needs to take to build a modern electricity system that is affordable, environmentally sustainable, and reliable.
Available in English and French. Five pages. Our letter outlines the Conservation Council’s concerns with New Brunswick’s plan to burn coal beyond the 2030 phase out, including a lack of transparency, the urgency with which we need to act on climate change, and the inconsistency of an equivalency agreement as Canada promotes the Powering Past Coal Alliance and prepares for the COP meetings in November 2021.
Conservation Council’s Submission on the effectiveness of Canada’s Output-Based Pricing System.
Available in English. Six pages. Principles guiding this submission include: The need for Canada’s efforts to align with the global carbon budget needed to limit global average temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius; and, the need for Canada’s efforts to align today with its fair contribution to global emissions reductions; a level suggesting 60 per cent reductions in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030; and the need to reach near zero no later than 2050 and likely earlier.
Conservation Council’s submission on proposed Clean Fuel Standard Regulation.
Available in English. Four pages. The Conservation Council’s submission to Environment and Climate Change Canada on the proposed Clean Fuel Standard Regulation.
Widespread solar adoption in NB inevitable: report
Available in English. 47 pages. A new report commissioned by NB Power says that widespread solar power adoption by “tens of thousands of homes and businesses” is inevitable in New Brunswick. The report, by Montreal’s Dunsky Energy Consulting, urges the public utility to get ahead of the curve by launching a solar panel leasing option now for homeowners and businesses.
Available in English. 4 pages. Climate change threatens Atlantic Canada’s quality of life, security and capacity to prosper economically through coastal sea level rise and erosion, extreme weather events, and changes to ecosystem function affecting fisheries, forestry, and public health. Sadly, the Nova Scotia cap and trade proposal threatens to do all these things. If implemented as proposed, the cap and trade proposal could lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions in Nova Scotia, compared to the 2017 reference case. Download our letter to Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change Unit on Nova Scotia Cap and Trade Design Options. Available in English. 4 pages.
Opportunities to Adapt Climate Change Communications
Available in English. 33 pages. Looking to learn how to communicate better about climate change? Conservation Council’s Climate Change and Energy Solutions Director Dr. Louise Comeau invited the public to an online presentation on March 15, 2017 on the do’s and dont’s of communicating climate change.
If you work for the private or public sector, with non-government organizations or educational institutions, and you are struggling with how to communicate about climate change and environmental solutions like carbon pricing, you will find this webinar helpful to your work. Available in English. 33 pages.
Available in English. 97 pages. The majority New Brunswick citizens are very concerned about water pollution, according to a new comprehensive survey conducted by our Director of Climate Change and Energy Solutions, Dr. Louise Comeau, on New Brunswickers’ concerns and attitudes about fresh water and preparedness for extreme weather events.
The Conservation Council believes survey results underscore the need for government leadership both on cleaning up, and preventing, pollution being released into our precious waterways and on investing in infrastructure and preparedness to protect citizens and communities from the risks of extreme weather resulting from climate change.
- Download Dr. Louise Comeau’s complete report
- Download Louise Comeau’s research summary (Climate Change Focus)
Conservation Council’s Dr. Comeau releases study on carbon narratives in New Brunswick
Available in English. 112 pages. Narratives that frame carbon pricing as a common-sense tool to make polluters pay their fair share of environmental damages while creating incentives that unleash innovation and creativity, are favoured by New Brunswickers, concludes a new study by our Climate Change and Energy Solutions Program Director, Dr. Louise Comeau in collaboration with UK-based Climate Outreach.
Carbon pricing is a priority of Canadian and provincial governments. That the Conservation Council believes this research looking at how framing carbon pricing in a different light can change the way we view the mechanism will be a useful tool for New Brunswickers.
New Brunswick Ice Storm Review – January 2017
Available in English. 169 pages. From January 24-26, 2017, an ice storm hit central and eastern New Brunswick, from Miscou Island to Sackville, causing nearly 300,000 NB Power customers losing power. Public meetings were held as part of a post-action review report of the ice storm. Judy Wagner, Clerk of the Executive Council and head of the public service, led the review. Her report, with recommendations, is supported by internal reviews undertaken by New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, NB Power and officials from the Department of Health, as well as stakeholder feedback.
- Download the full report: New Brunswick Ice Storm Review – January 2017
- Read government summary of Recommendations
- Conservation Council statement on release of 2017 Ice Storm Review
Conservation Council’s Recommendations on how to respond to ice storms
Available in English and French. 7 pages. Following a series of extreme weather events that have been plaguing the province, we released a report, with recommendations, based on an assessment of how Fredericton responded to Post-tropical storm Arthur. Several of the recommendations we made to the province, the city and to the Emergency Measures Office (EMO) at that time are relevant to the inquiry into how EMO and NB Power responded to the recent ice storm affecting the Acadian Peninsula.
- Download our letter to the Emergency Measures Office (EMO) listing our recommendations on how to respond to ice storms. (English) (French)
- Download our presentation on how to respond to ice storms
Auditor General Kim MacPherson’s climate change report
New Brunswick Auditor General Kim MacPherson released the first volume of the 2017 New Brunswick Auditor General Report on June 20, 2017, which included an assessment of New Brunswick’s progress toward reducing greenhouse gases and adapting to climate change.
Read Chapter 3 (on climate change) from Volume I of the 2017 Auditor of the report
Read our summary of Auditor General Kim MacPherson’s recommendations.
Greenhouse gas emission data released for 2015
By Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2017. Available in English. 43 pages. On April 13, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data for 2015. The data details GHG pollution trends and emissions reported from industrial sectors across Canada, including mining, oil and gas extraction, energy utilities, manufacturing, etc.
New Brunswick’s Climate Change Action Plan: Transitioning to a Low-Carbon Economy
By the Government of New Brunswick. 2016. Available in English. 25 pages. The Government has listened to New Brunswickers and delivered a credible Climate Action Plan that has all the elements needed for effective implementation: commitments to Premier-led governance, target-driven policies, and sources of funding to support programs for low-income families, homeowners, and industry.
Majority of Canadians support climate action, says new poll
By the University of Montreal. 2016. Available in English upon request. A strong majority of Canadians support new regulations on energy efficiency, cleaner fuels and renewable energy, says a comprehensive new poll conducted by researchers at the University of Montreal. Key findings represent a sample of 1,200 Canadians that answered a 40-question survey conducted between Oct. 5th and Oct.18th.
Those findings include: 95 % of Canadians support building energy efficiency, 73% Canadians believe their governments should do more to limit climate change, 81% of Canadians support a coal phase-out, 71% of Canadians want more emphasis on wind, 85% of Canadians want more emphasis on solar, 87% of Canadians support renewable portfolio standards, and 72 % of Canadians show support for carbon pricing.
Out with the Coal, in with the New National benefits of an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power
Out with the Coal, in with the New National benefits of an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power
By Pembina Institute. 2016. Available in English. 61 Pages. As a 19th-century break-through technology, burning coal to produce electricity propelled massive improvements in the productivity and well-being of society. But in the 21st century, its continued use is much less revolutionary: coal combustion has well known health and environmental consequences. Throughout this paper, we make the case that a commitment to accelerate Canada’s phase-out of coal fired power by 2030 must be a cornerstone element of the first ministers’ upcoming national climate change plan. A commitment of this nature is a first step to getting Canada on track to achieve its 2030 emissions reduction target, and would secure important health and economic benefits nation-wide.
Conservation Council of New Brunswick Climate Action Plan Pre-Budget Submission
A path to a Low-Carbon Economy that creates jobs and sustains families and communities.
Available in English. 13 pages. Climate Change is urgent as is the Province’s need to create jobs and stimulate innovation. Read our climate action plan 2017 Pre-Budget Submission: A path to a Low-Carbon Economy that creates jobs and sustains families and communities, here.
How to minimize risk from climate change induced extreme events
Available in English. 54 pages. Extreme weather events are a growing reality for New Brunswickers concerned with effects of climate change. Luckily, Post-tropical storm Arthur provided us with important guidance on how to minimize risks to citizens from climate-change induced extreme events. Read Dr. Louise Comeau’s report on how to minimize risk from climate change induced extreme events: Community Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change: Fredericton, here.
Select Committee on Climate Change Report Could Set Stage for a Sustainable New Brunswick
Available in English. 58 pages. The Final Report of the Select Committee on Climate Change is a testament to the value of making our voices heard. Members of the eight-member, all-party committee listened to New Brunswickers and have delivered a report that could lay the foundation for long-term sustainability and stable jobs while meeting our climate protection goals. Download New Brunswickers’ Response to Climate Change Final Report of the Select Committee on Climate Change.
Presentations to the NB Select Committee on Climate Change
Available in English. 34-49 pages. Read through our series of presentations to the NB Select Committee on Climate Change: Clean Energy Solutions, presented by Liane Thibodeau, President of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, our executive director, Lois Corbett, and Dr. Louise Comeau.
Conservation Council of New Brunswick releases policy options to spur climate change conversation
Available in English. 35 pages. A new report from the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, released in July 2016, offers provincial politicians, environmental policy makers, and citizens a bold vision for New Brunswick. The three-part plan covers electricity, provincial investments, and government policies required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while keeping bills low and creating jobs for New Brunswickers.
The Path Forward to a Sustainable Energy Future…?
By David Coon and Raphael Shay. 2010. Available in English only. 18 pages. An analysis of the New Brunswick Energy Commission’s Recommendations
Road Map to a Self-Sufficient Energy Future
By David Coon and Toby Couture. 2007. Available in English and French. 26 pages.
