Indigenous-owned or co-owned renewable energy initiatives are crucial for Canada to make progress towards its climate objectives, according to a leading advocate. James Jenkins, the executive director of Indigenous Clean Energy, a nonprofit organization supporting Indigenous-led clean energy projects at the community level, emphasized the rising number of Indigenous-owned or co-owned renewable energy projects in the past decade.
Jenkins highlighted the significance of each emission-free project in helping Canada move closer to its climate goals. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada released in December indicated that Canada is projected to fall significantly short of its 2030 climate target, being only halfway towards achieving a 40 to 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2005 levels.
Reflecting on the progress, Jenkins, a Walpole Island First Nation member in southwestern Ontario, mentioned various types of projects, such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and battery storage operations. He underlined that revenue generated from renewable energy generation is reinvested back into the community, aligning with community values.
According to the Canada Energy Regulator website, as of 2022, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities were involved as partners or beneficiaries in around 20 percent of Canada’s current electrical-generation infrastructure. The website also noted a fourfold increase in renewable projects on traditional Indigenous territories or reserve lands between 2009 and 2020.
One notable collaboration is seen in the partnership between Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation, and Northland Power in the Oneida Energy Storage project, Canada’s largest grid-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage facility. This project aims to reduce emissions by an estimated 1.2 to 4.1 million tonnes, equivalent to removing up to 40,000 cars from the roads.
Regarding policy support, Jenkins called for continued positive momentum from federal, provincial, and territorial leadership, including grants for constructing Indigenous-led projects. He highlighted the expected surge in electricity demand over the next decade and emphasized the valuable partnership between Indigenous communities and the nation.
In assessing Canada’s progress towards climate targets, Ross Linden-Fraser, the research lead of 440 Megatonnes at the Canadian Climate Institute, acknowledged Indigenous nations’ pivotal role in advancing clean electricity initiatives. However, he expressed concerns about Canada moving further away from its climate goals due to the removal or weakening of climate policies by federal and provincial governments since 2023.
Linden-Fraser stressed the importance of Canada’s contribution to global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the need for substantive assessments of corrective options if the country veers off track. He urged for transparent policies and improvements to foster a cleaner and more resilient economy.
While emphasizing Canada’s role as a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, Linden-Fraser noted federal efforts such as the Darlington nuclear expansion, North Coast Transmission Line project, and hydroelectric ventures in Iqaluit as steps towards emission reduction. The federal budget’s introduction of the Canada Climate Competitiveness Strategy was highlighted as a key initiative to drive emissions reduction through various measures and investments to support a transition to net-zero emissions.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Indigenous communities and clean energy projects plays a crucial role in Canada’s climate action agenda, signaling a pathway towards a greener and more sustainable future.