Pathways to Net Zero: A Transition Accelerator Webinar Series

There is no doubt that reaching net by 2050 won’t be easy. But there is one thing we know for certain: net zero changes everything and incremental emissions reductions are no longer enough to meet our climate goals. Instead, the net zero transition will require major changes in fundamental systems, like the way we produce and distribute energy, move people and goods and build and live within our cities.
But with economic, social and technological changes already affecting key sectors of Canada’s economy in regions across the country, we also have an unprecedented opportunity to direct these disruptions to create the future we want – a prosperous, more equitable and green future.
On the last Wednesday of every month, join The Transition Accelerator team and special guests for Pathways to Net Zero, a Transition Accelerator Webinar series focused on credible, compelling pathways cable of driving Canada to reach net zero by 2050. This not-to-be-missed series will feature engaging and thought-provoking expert presentations, conversations and debates concerning viable net zero solutions, and how they can be applied by governments, industry and investors to achieve Canada’s climate, economic and social goals.
Upcoming Events

Join us this fall for more Pathways to Net Zero
Fall 2022 lineup announcements coming soon
Our Pathways to Net Zero webinar series is on hold for the summer. Join us this fall for more expert presentations and fascinating conversations on the how we can reach Canada’s net-zero goals for 2050.
In the meantime, please follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates on other Transition Accelerator reports, presentations, and initiatives.
Previous Events
Deep Geothermal Superpower: Canada's potential for a breakthrough in enhanced geothermal systems
Wednesday, June 29 from 1 – 2:15 pm ET
Presenters Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon and Dr. Ian Graham provide a plain-language introduction to geothermal electricity and heat production, focusing on deep enhanced geothermal systems (or “deep EGS”) that create heat-exchange reservoirs in hot, dry rock more than 5 kilometres below Earth’s surface.
Part of the Transition Accelerator’s Pathways to Net Zero webinar series, this conversation presents the deep EGS opportunity, highlights important R&D gaps, and identifies key technical, financing, and regulatory challenges. The speakers propose that Canada can and should become the global leader in deep EGS — but to do so, it must create strong incentives to solve the technology’s core R&D challenge: cost-effective, deep drilling through hard (igneous and metamorphic) rock. A Q&A session follows.
Factors Affecting Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy and Transmission Projects
Wednesday, May 25 from 1-2 pm ET
Mass electrification and grid integration is vital to reaching net zero by 2050, which is why social acceptance of renewable energy and transmission projects is paramount.
Join Dr. Louise Comeau, Director of Climate Change and Energy Solutions at the Conservation Council of New Brunswick for a webinar on factors affecting social acceptance of renewable energy and transmission projects. This webinar will be moderated by Dr. Bruce Lourie, President of Ivey Foundation and Chair of The Transition Accelerator’s Board of Directors. A Q&A session will follow.
Net Zero Changes Everything
Wednesday, April 27 at 1-2 pm ET
For 30 years, Canada has been taking incremental steps to reduce emissions with the assumption that our underlying systems of energy production, transportation and heating do not require a fundamental change, but simply to become more efficient. But with only 28 years left to meet our 2050 net zero goal and prevent the worst effects of climate change, we must develop stepwise pathways capable of eliminating emissions from all parts of the economy. In short, net zero changes everything.
Join The Transition Accelerator’s research directors, Dr. Normand Mousseau and Dr. James Meadowcroft for this engaging one-hour webinar on why net zero changes everything, how to avoid dead-end pathways that won’t get us to our net zero goal. Attendees will gain insight into what our net zero world and energy system will look like and how to get there, and what government, investors and industry must do to get Canada’s net zero transition right.
Latest
A Roadmap for Canada’s Battery Value Chain
Jun 2022
Allan B, Trytten L, Campbell S, Meseldzija Z, Nielsen J, Deith J, Pelletier E, Lappin L, Fischer A, Beck M, Smith M, Leung P, Rohl J, London I, Fortier M, Kabbara M
What must be done today to build a Canadian battery metals industry that will be a significant contributor to Canada’s long-term prosperity? This report argues that to seize its enormous opportunities in the battery metals value chain, Canada needs a bold national strategy, roadmap, and action plan.
Report: Autonomous Vehicles, Parking & the Real Estate Sector
Vol. 3, Iss. 4 (Oct 2021)
Layzell D, Stout M, Leary J, Stone C
For the past 100 years, the automobile, especially personally owned vehicles, have greatly impacted the design of our cities and how we live in them. However, Canada’s personal mobility systems are poised to be radically transformed by the convergence of four disruptive technology and business model innovations: vehicle automation, connectivity, electrification and car sharing. Together, these innovations enable Autonomous Mobility-on-Demand (AMoD), whereby fleets of autonomous, connected and driverless vehicles will pick up and drop off passengers, effectively replacing the need for personal vehicle ownership, while providing a more convenient, safer and lower cost service.
Blog – What if our Cities only Needed a Fraction of their Parking Spaces?
Finding parking when and where you need it can be both time consuming and stress inducing. In pre-pandemic days at least, there never seemed to be enough parking.
To meet climate goals, we can’t leave autonomous vehicles on autopilot
Autonomous vehicles have come to play a major role in many visions of the transportation future, with car companies, tech companies, and policymakers all proposing their own versions of a self-driving future.
Report: Thinking about the future of autonomous vehicles
Vol. 3, Iss. 2 (Apr 2021)
Roberts C, Meadowcroft J
This report explores whether we should support the rapid introduction of autonomous vehicles in the hope that they will unlock changes in the mobility system that facilitate more low-carbon travel or be more cautious on the ground that they might make things worse.
News Release: New Report Recommends Paradigm Shift in Approach to Tackling Climate Change
Reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions will require major changes in the large-scale systems we use to meet societal needs, such as the way we produce and distribute energy or move people and goods.
Report – Pathways to Net Zero: A Decision Support Tool
Vol. 3, Iss. 1 (Jan 2021)
Meadowcroft J
The purpose of this report is to provide a simple tool to help those concerned with policy and investment decisions to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
Blog – The Transformation of Canadian Personal Mobility: Some Lessons from History
A careful reading of Canadian transportation history gives some clues for how we might achieve a more sustainable transportation system during the twenty-first century.
Report – The Rise Of The Automobile: Lessons From Historical Canadian Transportation Transitions
Vol. 2, Iss. 4 (Nov 2020)
Roberts C, Meadowcroft J, Layzell D
This paper examines the experience of an earlier transition in land transport that saw the rapid adoption of the automobile.
Report: Mobility as a service in Quebec
Vol. 2, Iss. 3 (Aug 2020)
Pedroli F, Mousseau N
This report lists the different mobility services that exist in Quebec, in particular for car sharing, personal vehicle sharing and fleets of self-service cars.