Indigenous-owned or co-owned renewable energy initiatives are playing a crucial role in advancing Canada’s climate goals, according to a leading advocate. James Jenkins, the executive director of Indigenous Clean Energy, a non-profit organization supporting Indigenous-led clean energy projects at the community level, highlighted the increasing presence of Indigenous-owned or co-owned renewable energy projects over the past decade. Jenkins emphasized that each emission-free project contributes to Canada’s overall climate objectives.
Recent data from Environment and Climate Change Canada, released in December, indicates that Canada may fall significantly short of its 2030 climate target. The country is only halfway towards its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels. Jenkins, a member of the Walpole Island First Nation in southwestern Ontario, noted the rise in hydroelectric, wind, and solar projects, along with battery storage initiatives. These renewable energy projects not only generate revenue but also reinvest back into the community.
According to the Canada Energy Regulator website, as of 2022, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit groups were involved as partners or beneficiaries in approximately 20 percent of Canada’s existing electrical-generation infrastructure. The number of renewable projects on traditional Indigenous territories or reserve lands has quadrupled between 2009 and 2020.
Partnerships like the Oneida Energy Storage, involving the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation and Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation, highlight the growth of Indigenous involvement in clean energy. This lithium-ion battery energy storage facility, owned mostly by Northland Power, is the largest grid-scale battery energy storage facility in Canada. It is expected to reduce emissions by 1.2 to 4.1 million tonnes, equivalent to removing up to 40,000 cars from the road.
Efforts to engage federal, provincial, and territorial leadership in supporting Indigenous-led projects remain crucial for sustaining this positive momentum. Jenkins stressed the importance of ongoing collaboration and investment in these projects to meet the increasing demand for electricity predicted by many provincial governments over the next decade.
In a recent report from the Canadian Climate Institute, Ross Linden-Fraser, the research lead of 440 Megatonnes, highlighted the significant role Indigenous nations play in advancing clean electricity initiatives. However, the report also pointed out that Canada has veered further away from its climate targets since 2023 due to the removal or weakening of climate policies by federal and provincial governments.
The net-zero emissions accountability act in Canada requires the government to present alternative strategies if the country is off track from its climate goals. While Canada’s reports on policy updates and emissions projections have been thorough, Linden-Fraser emphasized the need for more substantive assessments of corrective measures. Efforts such as the Canada Climate Competitiveness Strategy, including methane regulations, industrial carbon pricing, investment tax credits, and support for clean growth, are steps in the right direction towards a cleaner and more resilient economy.
In response to concerns about Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, the Office of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change cited various initiatives, such as the Darlington nuclear expansion and hydroelectric projects, as part of federal efforts to reduce emissions. The government also highlighted the Canada Climate Competitiveness Strategy in the recent federal budget as a means to drive clean growth and transition to a net-zero economy.