Net-Zero Advisory Body

In February 2021, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced the Net-Zero Advisory Body.

This independent group of experts has a mandate to engage with Canadians and provide advice to the Minister on pathways to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Backgrounder

The Government of Canada is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To hold the government to its commitment, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act was tabled in the House of Commons in fall 2020. The Act establishes an independent net-zero advisory body of up to 15 experts, who will provide advice to the government and consult with Canadians on the most efficient and effective ways to reach this goal.

Some of the Advisory Body’s work will include:

focusing to identify actions that Canada can take to set a strong foundation to achieve net-zero while also supporting economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic;
continuing to identify next steps in the years ahead to fight climate change and reach net-zero emissions that would grow our economy, while also making life more affordable;
engaging broadly across Canada, including with stakeholders, Indigenous peoples, youth, other experts, and the public in a transparent and inclusive process; and,
encouraging and empowering Canadians to help the country achieve its net-zero emissions goal.

The Advisory Body’s reports and advice would inform the targets and emissions reduction plans required by the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.

The Advisory Body is a permanent resource. It will provide ongoing expert advice from now until 2050 to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the Minister), as Canada develops and implements its plans to achieve net-zero emissions.

Over 120 countries have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Many, including the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, and France, have already legislated those commitments and introduced their own net-zero advisory bodies.

Mandate of the Net-Zero Advisory Body

The primary mandate of the Net-Zero Advisory Body is to identify pathways to help Canada achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, the Minister must provide the Advisory Body with the opportunity to share its advice when setting or amending a national greenhouse gas emissions target or establishing or amending an emissions reduction plan.

An ongoing role for the Advisory Body will be to help ensure its advice remains aligned with – and adapts to – the best available analysis, research, technological changes, scientific developments, and public perspectives.

In the months ahead, the Advisory Body will establish a transparent and inclusive engagement process. The Advisory Body’s work will be independent; however, regular consultation with the Minister will inform its priorities.

Terms of reference

Context

The Government of Canada has enacted the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (CNZEAA) to provide transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050, supported by public participation and expert advice.

The CNZEAA established an advisory body, called the Net-Zero Advisory Body (NZAB).

The CNZEAA provides that the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Minister) determines and amends the NZAB's Terms of Reference. The Minister must make the Terms of Reference or any subsequent amendments public. The following are the Terms of Reference for the NZAB, as determined by the Minister in April 2022, with a minor revision in February 2025.

See the Annex for the sections in CNZEAA that implicate the NZAB, including its statutory duties.

Mandate

The NZAB is mandated to provide the Minister with independent advice with respect to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including advice respecting:

greenhouse gas emissions targets for milestone years (i.e., 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045);
greenhouse gas emissions reduction plans by the Government of Canada, including measures and sectoral strategies that the Government of Canada could implement to achieve a greenhouse gas emissions target; and
any matter referred to it by the Minister.

Under c), the Minister had referred that the NZAB provide independent advice to inform Canada's emissions reduction plan for 2030, specifically key guiding principles on the development of quantitative five-year targets to cap and cut emissions from the oil and gas sector. Additionally, the NZAB should take into account the interim greenhouse gas emissions objective for 2026, as set in Canada's emissions reduction plan for 2030, when providing advice.

Independent advice should take into account the best scientific information available, Canada's international commitments with respect to climate change, and Indigenous knowledge.

The NZAB's mandate also includes conducting engagement activities related to achieving net-zero emissions.

Annual report

The NZAB must submit an annual report to the Minister with respect to its independent advice and activities, including setting out the results of its engagement activities.

The Minister requests that an annual report be submitted on or before the first Monday of October every year, starting in 2023 and by December 31 for 2022.

The Minister will communicate in writing any other adjustments to the October deadline at least 12 months in advance.

When providing its advice and preparing its report, the NZAB must take into account a range of factors, to the extent they are relevant to the purpose of the CNZEAA including environmental, economic, social and technological and the best available scientific information and knowledge, including Indigenous knowledge, respecting climate change.

At minimum, the annual report will include:

The mandate of the NZAB;
Its lines of inquiry, including any referred by the Minister;
Brief biographies and summaries of affiliations and interests of members;
A summary of the engagement that the NZAB undertook and the results;
A summary of the scientific information and knowledge, including Indigenous knowledge, respecting climate change that the NZAB took into account;
A summary of the environmental, economic, social and technological considerations that the NZAB took into account;
Advice to the Minister, including a summary of any early advice provided to the Minister since the last annual report;
Any advice for other audiences, such as individuals, communities, businesses, and other orders of governments;
A summary of any differences of opinion when not all members agreed with the advice; and,
Any confirmed future lines of inquiry.

The Minister must make the annual report available to the public within 30 days after receiving it and then, within 120 days after receiving the report, the Minister must publicly respond to the advice that the NZAB includes in it with respect to the matters referred to in paragraphs 20(1) (a) to (c) of the CNZEAA, including any national greenhouse gas emissions target that is recommended by the NZAB if the Minister has set a target that is different from it.

Other annual deliverables

To support good governance, accountability, and transparency, the NZAB is required to develop and publish a forward-looking corporate plan for the next 2 years. This plan will provide certainty for stakeholders and others who plan to engage the NZAB. It will include four components: its strategic objectives, lines of inquiry, engagement priorities, and general work plan with deliverables. The NZAB must make its corporate plan public on or before March 31, every two years, starting in 2023.

The NZAB is required to develop and publish a retrospective "what we heard report" annually. This report will communicate the key findings and messages from engagement since the last annual report, and list engagement activities and the groups that were engaged. It will serve as an intermediate step and opportunity for re-engagement and validation before an annual report. The NZAB must make this report public on or before the first Monday of June every year, starting in 2023 and by September 30 for 2022.

Lines of Inquiry

The NZAB's independent advice will be structured along specific lines of inquiry, which will be set at regular intervals in consultation with the Minister, including any matter referred by the Minister.

In line with the NZAB's mandate to provide advice on measures and sectoral strategies to achieve a greenhouse gas emissions target, its lines of inquiry may include specific sectors (e.g., oil and gas, transportation, buildings, electricity, heavy industry, agriculture, and forestry) or thematic opportunities (e.g., circular economy, social and behavioural shifts to accelerate climate action, nature-based solutions, clean and net-negative technologies).

Engagement, analysis, and research activities

The NZAB will draw from all existing relevant domestic and international research and analysis, and will establish a transparent and inclusive process for input.

Where original research is necessary, the NZAB will conduct or commission new studies.

The NZAB will act as a platform to analyze and integrate recommendations stemming from multiple net-zero policy initiatives to a single focal point within the Government of Canada.

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change will provide at least one opportunity annually for the NZAB to meet with the federal department heads responsible for measures to achieve net-zero.

The NZAB will work closely with other relevant federal bodies tasked with providing advice to the Government of Canada, as well as with relevant advisory groups established by provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. It is expected to collaborate with advisory bodies established in other countries as well.

The Ministers of Natural Resources and Environment and Climate Change have agreed that the Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council and the NZAB will share and coordinate advice to encourage collaboration between the two groups, support complementarity of their respective lines of enquiry, and avoid duplication of efforts. The NZAB will also undertake robust engagement based on its own priorities for engagement, which may include engaging with the Canadian public; provinces and territories; municipalities; Indigenous governments or organizations; youth; civil society, industry or other stakeholders; experts, including scientists and Indigenous Knowledge Holders; and, international bodies.

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change will provide the NZAB with opportunities to advise on the design and themes of dedicated departmental net-zero funding programs for research and engagement.

Membership

The Governor in Council appoints the members of the NZAB on the recommendation of the Minister and fixes their remuneration. The NZAB is composed of no more than fifteen members, who are appointed on a part-time basis for a renewable term of up to three years. The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, designates two co-chairs from among the members appointed.

When making a recommendation, the Minister must consider the need for the NZAB as a whole to have expertise in, or knowledge of,

climate change science, including the environmental, ecological, social, economic and distributional effects of climate change;
Indigenous knowledge;
other relevant physical and social sciences, including economic analysis and forecasting;
climate change and climate policy at the national, subnational and international levels, including the likely effects and efficacy of potential responses to climate change;
energy supply and demand; and
relevant technologies.

Members of the NZAB are deemed to be employed in the federal public administration for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made under section 9 of the Aeronautics Act.

Members serve as individuals. They do not represent any organization that they are affiliated with.

All members will abide by applicable legislation and terms of reference. Legislative requirements supersede the terms of reference in the event of any inconsistency.
It is the responsibility of each NZAB member to:

Demonstrate high standards of corporate governance and ethics at all times, consistent with the Conflict of Interest section of these Terms of Reference;
Act in good faith and in the best interests of the NZAB as a whole;
Contribute to the development of advice, attend meetings, lead or serve on subcommittees as their time allows, and participate in engagement activities to the best of their ability;
Review and endorse all public-facing reports, or provide a written statement of differing opinions if unable to achieve consensus on a specific element of advice in an annual report; and,
Notify the Secretariat and the co-chairs of any requests for meetings with external parties where they are—or are perceived to be—representing the NZAB, and provide a formal debrief of any resulting meeting or exchange of information.

In addition to their responsibilities as members, the co-chairs have responsibilities to:

Chair meetings of the NZAB in a manner that ensures that objectives are met, all members are heard and respected, discussions are within the mandate, consensus is built, and decisions or next steps are clear and communicated;
Provide leadership on deliverables, lines of inquiry, engagement, research, analysis, and advice;
Review and provide final approval of all public-facing reports, ensuring all timelines are met; and
Meet with other bodies, groups, and organizations to officially represent the NZAB, as appropriate and generally represent the views of the NZAB to the public and media.

Members are prohibited from disclosing any confidential or non-public information received as part of their involvement in the NZAB. This applies to information received in writing or orally, including through email correspondence, telephone calls, and print materials, as well as during presentations and discussions.

For all meetings, the co-chairs will determine if there is adequate attendance to achieve the meeting objectives and inform decisions. Absent members will be invited to send their views on issues for discussion or decision in writing to the co-chairs and the Secretariat in advance of the meeting.

Conflict of interest

Members of the NZAB are subject to all the requirements, terms, and conditions of part-time Governor in Council appointees (i.e., public office holder), including but not limited the terms and conditions applying to Governor in Council appointees, the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders, the Conflict of Interest Act, the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service and the Lobbying Act.

Members will be required to disclose activities and interests that could place them in a conflict of interest with respect to the work of the NZAB. To ensure the integrity of the NZAB's independent advice, members will embrace full transparency of declaring interests related to any items under discussion by the NZAB and will recuse themselves from actively participating in discussions or providing advice where there is a real or perceived conflict. Members will notify the Secretariat and the co-chairs of any changes in their affiliations and interests related to the NZAB's mandate during their tenure.

Guiding principles on conflict of interest will be provided to the NZAB, and may be periodically reviewed and adjusted to ensure the most objective advice is given.

Secretariat and other supports

Through a dedicated Secretariat, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will provide logistical, administrative, and policy support to the NZAB. It is important to note that the Secretariat will not be a part of the NZAB, but rather provide support to it.

The primary role of the Secretariat is to coordinate and support the NZAB in its work including:

Advising on the discharge of the NZAB mandate as set out in the CNZEAA and these terms of reference, as well as any referred matters from the Minister;
Supporting high standards of corporate governance and ethics at all times;
Planning and delivering activities, including administration, analysis, research, and engagement;
Developing, translating, producing, and delivering products, such as agendas, briefing notes, strategies, annual reports, corporate plans, what was heard reports, and communications materials;
Managing budgets, remuneration and expenses, including any contracting or funding to third parties, including of any roles within secretariat purview;
Liaising with the Government of Canada and strategic partners;
Properly disclosing information, consistent with applicable laws and policies;
Establishing and managing the NZAB's digital presence, including any external website, social media, and internal platform for information sharing and discussion; and,
Supporting best practices for consensus building.

Members of the Secretariat will attend all meetings and engagement activities of the NZAB in order to fulfil these responsibilities. The co-chairs may direct that a meeting or a portion thereof be held in-camera in order to discuss potentially contentious issues so that the best interests of the NZAB are served.

The NZAB may request that ECCC and other government departments provide economic analysis and emissions modelling expertise.

Relevant Government of Canada departments may be asked to assist the NZAB by providing briefings, data, and analysis on federal policies and programs.

Reporting, accountability, and transparency

While the NZAB will operate independently in developing its advice, it will report to the Minister.

The NZAB will meet at least three times annually with the Minister to provide updates on its independent advice and engagement activities, including its lines of inquiry and annual report.

The NZAB may present its advice to the Prime Minister, members of Cabinet, or senior federal officials.

Through its website, the NZAB will publicly communicate non-confidential information, including:

Short meeting summaries of official NZAB meetings;
Corporate plan(s);
What we heard reports;
Its annual report once released by the Minister; and,
Other documents as appropriate.

Official languages

In keeping with the federal Official Languages Act, NZAB members have the right to receive documents and participate in discussions in the official language of their choice.

Public disclosure

In keeping with its policies on openness and transparency, ECCC may make public, information about the NZAB, its mandate, advice, or reports, as permitted or required by law and policy, including the Access to Information Act.

ECCC will disclose any information required to comply with an audit ordered by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada or with Parliamentary review of the CNZEAA.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property rights arising out of the work of the NZAB will rest in His Majesty The King in Right of Canada, as Represented by The Minister of the Environment, further represented as Environment Climate Change Canada.

Travel and expenses

The members are entitled to be reimbursed, in accordance with Treasury Board directives, for the travel, living and other expenses incurred in connection with their work for the NZAB while absent from their ordinary place of residence.

Operating procedures

The NZAB may adopt operating procedures to govern its operations, including quorum, consensus building, and other administrative matters.

Annex – Relevant sections of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act

Setting emissions target

8 When setting a greenhouse gas emissions target, the Minister must take into account

the best scientific information available;
Canada's international commitments with respect to climate change;
Indigenous knowledge; and
submissions provided by the advisory body under section 13 and advice it provided in its report under subsection 22(1).

Emissions reduction plan - considerations

9 (5) When establishing a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan, the Minister must take into account the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the submissions provided by the advisory body under section 13 and advice it provided in its report under subsection 22(1), and any other considerations that are relevant to the purpose of this Act.

Public participation

13 When setting or amending a national greenhouse gas emissions target or establishing or amending an emissions reduction plan, the Minister must, in the manner the Minister considers it appropriate, provide the governments of the provinces, Indigenous peoples of Canada, the advisory body established under section20and interested persons, including any expert the Minister considers appropriate to consult, with the opportunity to make submissions.

Establishment and mandate

20 (1) There is established an advisory body, called the Net-Zero Advisory Body, whose mandate is to provide the Minister withindependentadvice with respect to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including advice respecting

greenhouse gas emissions targets under section 7;
greenhouse gas emissions reduction plans under section 9, includingmeasures and sectoral strategies that the Government of Canada could implement to achieve a greenhouse gas emissions target; and
any matter referred to it by the Minister.

Engagement activities

(1.1) The advisory body's mandate also includes conducting engagement activities related to achieving net-zero emissions.

Terms of reference

(2) The Minister may determine and amend the terms of reference of the advisory bodyand must make any terms of reference or amendments to those terms available to the public.

Appointment and remuneration of members

21 (1) The Governor in Council appoints the members of the advisory body on the recommendation of the Minister and fixes their remuneration.

Minister's recommendation

(1.1) When making a recommendation, the Minister must consider the need for the advisory body as a whole to have expertise in, or knowledge of,

climate change science, including the environmental, ecological, social, economic and distributional effects of climate change;
Indigenous knowledge;
other relevant physical and social sciences, including economic analysis and forecasting;
climate change and climate policy at the national, subnational and international levels, including the likely effects and efficacy of potential responses to climate change;
energy supply and demand; and
relevant technologies.

Composition of body

(2) The advisory body is composed of no more than fifteen members, who are appointed on a part-time basis for a renewable term of up to three years.

Co-chairs

(3) The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the minister, designates two co-chairs from among the members appointed under subsection (1).

Reimbursement of expenses

(4) The members are entitled to be reimbursed, in accordance with Treasury Board directives, for the travel, living and other expenses incurred in connection with their work for the advisory body while absent from their ordinary place of residence.

Deemed employment

(5) Members of the advisory body are deemed to be employed in the federal public administration for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made under section 9 of the Aeronautics Act.

Report

22 (1) The advisory body must submit an annual report to the Minister with respect to its advice and activities,including setting out the result of its engagement activities.

Factors

(1.1) When providing its advice and preparing its report, the advisory body must take into account a range of factors, to the extent they are relevant to the purpose of this Act including environmental, economic, social and technological and the best available scientific information and knowledge, including Indigenous knowledge, respecting climate change.

Minister's response

(2) The Minister must make the annual report available to the public within 30 days after receiving it and then, within 120 days after receiving the report, the Minister must publicly respond to the advice that the advisory body includes in it with respect to the matters referred to in paragraphs 20(1)(a) to (c), including any national greenhouse gas emissions target that is recommended by the advisory body if the Minister has set a target that is different from it.

Members

Net-Zero Advisory Body

On the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, the Governor General appoints and determines the compensation for members of the Net-Zero Advisory Body (NZAB). The NZAB has no more than 15 members. These individuals are appointed on a part-time basis for a renewable term of up to three years. The members bring together a diverse range of expertise in science, business, policymaking, rural economic development, and conservation. Members also bring different experiences, including from the transportation, clean technology, agriculture, electricity, and not-for-profit sectors.

Simon Donner (Co-chair)

Climate scientist and Professor, University of British Columbia

Simon Donner is an interdisciplinary climate scientist and professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia, where he teaches and conducts research at the intersection of climate change science and policy. He is also the director of the UBC Ocean Leaders program, and holds appointments in UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and UBC's Atmospheric Sciences Program. He has contributed over 70 publications on subjects including the ecological impacts of climate change, ocean warming, sea-level rise, climate extremes, adaptation, and international climate finance. His work is featured in international science assessments and he is currently a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report. In addition to his research and teaching, Prof. Donner has participated in hundreds of public events and media interviews, for which he was awarded a Leopold Leadership Fellowship, a Google Science Communication Fellowship and the UBC President's Award for Public Education through the Media. Originally from Toronto, Prof. Donner received a PhD in Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining UBC, he was a research associate at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

Sarah Houde (Co-chair)

Vice-President Sustainability, Intelcom|Dragonfly

Sarah Houde began her career as director of communications and public relations for private companies and non-profit organizations. Then, as General Manager, she took the reins of the Canada-wide organization Youth Fusion, which doubled in size during her three years of leadership. She then joined the team at private equity firm XPND Capital as vice-president of public and government affairs, where she oversaw a number of transportation electrification projects. In the fall of 2017, she became president and CEO of the new electric and intelligent transportation cluster, with a mandate to position the province among world leaders in the sector, a position she held until the fall of 2023. She then decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge and co-founded MileBox, a company of electric cargo bikes designed and assembled in Quebec, in line with her values of sustainable development. Ms. Houde holds a bachelor's degree from Université de Montréal, a master's degree in political science from McGill University, and a specialized higher education diploma in management from HEC Montréal.

Catherine Abreu (Member)

Director of the International Climate Politics Hub

Catherine Abreu is an internationally recognized, award-winning campaigner whose work centers on building powerful coalitions to advance action on climate change. One of the world’s 100 most influential people in climate policy as named by Apolitical in 2019, she has over 15 years of experience campaigning on environmental issues including 7 years in the heart of the climate movement. Catherine is the Founder & Executive Director of Destination Zero, a new organization focused on climate action and the global energy transition. Catherine served as the Executive Director of Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada from 2016 to mid-2021. Canada’s primary network of organizations working on climate change and energy issues, CAN-Rac is a coalition of more than 120 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Catherine joined CAN-Rac Canada after five years spearheading the energy and climate programs at the Ecology Action Centre, one of Atlantic Canada’s largest and longest-running environmental advocacy organizations. She is also the former Coordinator of the Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition. An accomplished public speaker, Catherine is honoured to have shared the stage with some of the world’s leading environmental thinkers, including David Suzuki, Christiana Figueres, and Bill McKibbon. Her political commentary has featured in the New York Times, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the Financial Post. She appears regularly as an expert guest on CBC, CTV, Global and other current affairs television and radio programs. Catherine is the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Jack Layton Progress Prize for her international leader-ship on climate policy and action, and her transformative work at CAN-Rac Canada. She is a proud honouree of Canada’s Clean50.

Michael Bernstein (Member)

President and Chief Executive Officer, Clean Prosperity

Michael Bernstein is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Clean Prosperity, a Canadian non-profit that works toward practical climate solutions that reduce emissions and grow the economy. Michael is also the Chair of the Advisory Board for Carbon Removal Canada, a project of the Clean Prosperity Foundation focused on rapidly and responsibly growing the carbon dioxide removal sector in Canada. Michael serves as Vice-Chair of Canada's Carbon Competitiveness Commission, and was the co-chair of the Carbon Management Working Group at the Public Policy Forum. Michael was selected as a Clean50 Honouree in 2023 for his work advancing Canadian climate policy.

Louise Comeau (Member)

Iris Communications and Senior Advisor, Re.Climate

Dr. Louise Comeau is a Senior Advisor at Re.Climate, an institute at Carleton University providing training, research and strategy on climate change communications and public engagement. Louise has more than 30 years’ experience in climate change policy, communications, and solutions-related advocacy and programming. She brings this experience to her work as an independent researcher and advocate supporting environmental groups and other clients through her consultancy, Iris Communications. Louise holds a doctorate in environmental management, focused on environmental ethics and behaviour change from the University of New Brunswick, where she is also an honorary research associate. She has received three Queen’s citizenship medals for her work in international climate negotiations, creation of Green Municipal Fund at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and advancing climate action in New Brunswick.

Robert Hornung (Member)

Independent Consultant

Robert Hornung (he/him) is an independent consultant who has worked to design and advocate for climate change solutions for more than 30 years. His current focus is on the policy, regulatory and market changes required to enable the decarbonization and expansion of efficient electricity production, transmission and use to support the objective of net-zero. Clients include industry associations, environmental non-profit organizations, research institutes, think tanks, and strategic advisory firms.

Robert worked for almost 20 years as an advocate for sustainable and accelerated renewable energy deployment in Canada, most recently providing a common voice for Canada’s wind and solar energy industries for the first time as the founding President and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association for 2.5 years. Prior to that, he was President of the Canadian Wind Energy Association for 17 years as Canada’s installed wind energy capacity grew from 300 MW to more than 13,000 MW.

Robert also spent 9 years with the Pembina Institute as Climate Change Program Director and Policy and Communications Director. He supported international climate change negotiations at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and worked on Canada’s first report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at Environment Canada. With Friends of the Earth Canada, Robert was one of Canada’s first environmental advocates on the climate change issue.

Shianne McKay (Member)

Senior Project Manager, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources

Shianne is located in Souris, Manitoba: Treaty 2 territory on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Oji-Cree Nations. Shianne has 16 years of experience in the Environmental Conservation Sciences field; 15 years working directly with First Nation communities. She is Oijbwe and a member of the Minegoziibe (Pine Creek First Nation) of Treaty 2 and Treaty 4 territory in Manitoba. She has attained a B.Sc. in Environmental and Conservation Sciences with a major in Conservation Biology from the University of Alberta. In 2013, she received a certificate in Indigenous Women in Community Leadership from the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University.

Shianne is currently one of the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources Senior Project Managers. She is responsible for all stages in developing and delivering projects related to CIER's thematic areas (water, climate change and energy, biodiversity, food sovereignty, and sustainable waste management) and developing and maintaining collaborative initiatives and partnerships with Indigenous communities, government agencies, private sector companies, philanthropic and charitable organizations, non-profits and academic institutes. Shianne has experience managing staff, chairing meetings, facilitating workshops, developing proposals and is also a member of CIER's Executive team.

In the climate-energy nexus, Shianne represents CIER on a number of climate-related initiatives such as being a member of the Council of Advisors for the Canadian Climate Institute and mentor for the Indigenous Perspectives Case Studies series and has acted as a selection committee member for the Climate Change Health Adaptation Program over the last several years.

Karen Ross (Member)

Director, Farmers for Climate Solutions

Karen Ross (she/her) has worked with farmers and policy makers on sustainable food systems for over 15 years, with a strong focus on supporting farmers to improve environmental outcomes and meet the challenges of climate change. As Executive Director of Farmers for Climate Solutions (FCS) -- Canada's first pan-Canadian alliance of over 20,000 farmers dedicated to supporting the sector’s climate transition -- Karen has built strong and diverse networks of advisors and partners across the agriculture sector in Canada. She has served in various advisory roles to the government on the subject. With a PhD and advanced degrees in agrarian political ecology and environmental biology and as an author on several peer-reviewed papers, Karen has a firm grounding in the value of credible research to inform farmer decision making, policy and programs in the field. As a small scale farmer herself, she knows first-hand the rewards and challenges of farming in a climate changing world and she is committed to ensuring that agricultural production benefits farmers, health, environment and the economy.

Previous members

Gaëtan Thomas (2025)
John Wright (2023)
Dan Wicklum (2023)
Linda Coady (2023)
Marie-Pierre Ippersiel (2023)
Yung Wu (2023)
Kluane Adamek (Aagé) (2022)
Kim Thomassin (2022)
Theresa Baikie (2021)
Peter Tertzakian (2021)
Hassan Yussuff (2021)

Annual report

Under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, the Net-Zero Advisory Body is required to submit annual reports to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The reports aim to give advice on and inform the development of policies and practices to achieve net-zero emissions. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change must publicly respond to each report within 120 days of receiving the report.

2024-2025

Minister’s response to the Second Annual Report Advice
NZAB's Second annual report – December 19, 2024

2022-2023

NZAB's 2022 Annual Report - December 30, 2022
Minister's Response to the NZAB's 2022 Annual Report advice - April 19, 2023

Links

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Date modified:: 2025-03-04