Designate energy efficiency priority
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to designate energy efficiency a nation-building priority and set two national goals: double the pace of energy productivity improvement and eliminate energy poverty while progressing to net‑zero emissions.
Why we would sign this petition
- Would boost economic output per unit of energy, potentially yielding large returns on investment (petitioners cite $4–$7 GDP per $1 invested), supporting growth while using less energy.
- Targets energy poverty directly, using efficiency improvements to lower and stabilize household energy bills for nearly two million affected households.
- Advances emissions goals and could meet a substantial share of future energy demand—petitioners say up to 40% by 2050—reducing reliance on carbon‑intensive supply.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Implementing national targets requires substantial upfront investment and coordination across federal, provincial and local governments, which could strain budgets or divert funds from other priorities.
- Doubling the pace of productivity improvement is ambitious; measuring, enforcing and attributing those gains across sectors may be complex and slow to show results.
- Prioritizing efficiency alone may not resolve supply constraints or fully address emissions and equity concerns; critics may prefer complementary or alternative policies.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Improving energy efficiency increases Canada’s energy productivity — generating more economic output for every unit of energy consumed — with estimates of $4 to $7 in GDP for every $1 invested; In December 2023, Canada committed to working with over 100 nations to double the annual rate of global energy efficiency improvements, and to the principle of energy efficiency as the "first fuel"; Energy poverty affects nearly two million households across Canada and improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to permanently reduce energy costs; and Energy efficiency could contribute significantly to Canada’s emissions reduction goals while meeting up to 40 per cent of projected energy needs by 2050. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to designate energy efficiency as a nation-building priority and to establish two national goals: Double the pace of energy productivity improvement, reflecting the economic value achieved per unit of energy consumed, and eliminate energy poverty in Canada while progressing toward net-zero emissions.
Government response
No government response is available yet.