The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is taking a second look at the province's now-defunct net zero advisory council, saying departments are "evaluating reactivation" of the panel that last sat in 2024.
Council's role questioned as climate plan develops
The council was established at the end of 2021 by the previous Liberal government to advise on ways the province could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and pursue the long-term goal of net zero by 2050. Its members were appointed to three-year terms and delivered guidance on a range of topics, from energy-efficiency programs to reducing emissions from organic waste and provincial research and development spending.
According to a recent filing to the House of Assembly, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Environment, Conservation and Climate Change is reviewing whether the advisory body should be reconstituted. A government communications staff member, Sherri Breen, confirmed the review in an email.
"The Department is currently evaluating reactivation of the council. Should a new net zero advisory council be established, members would be appointed at that time,"
The council issued a final report in 2024 and that report was released to the public in mid-2025. Since the release, no new appointments have been made and the council has effectively been inactive.
What the panel did and why it matters
The net zero advisory council provided independent recommendations intended to help shape provincial policy to meet greenhouse-gas reduction commitments. Its remit included technical and policy advice on:
- energy-efficiency programs;
- measures to reduce emissions from organic waste;
- provincial research and development priorities related to decarbonization.
Those areas are relevant to the next iteration of the province's climate plan. The government filing notes that recommendations from the previous council are being considered as officials develop a new plan.
From an active body to dormancy
Introduced in 2021, the panel operated for several years and completed a final report in 2024. That report was made public in mid-2025. After members' three-year appointments ended, no fresh appointments were announced and the council — for all practical purposes — became defunct.
Now, as the provincial government reviews its climate approach, the question is whether to revive the advisory mechanism or to pursue other avenues for expert input. The government has not committed to reappointing the council; instead, departments are evaluating whether reactivation would benefit the policy process.
Implications for stakeholders
Reconstituting the net zero advisory council would be a signal that the province wants renewed external advice while it crafts climate policy. For industry, municipalities and community groups, a functioning council could provide a forum to raise practical concerns about transition timelines, technology options and funding priorities.
If the council is not reactivated, those same stakeholders will be watching to see how the government incorporates the 2024 report's recommendations into the forthcoming climate plan and what other mechanisms will be used to gather expert input.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| End of 2021 | Council introduced |
| 2024 | Final report completed |
| Mid-2025 | Final report released publicly |
| 2026 | Departments evaluating reactivation |
For now, the government’s statement leaves the question open. As departments continue work on a new climate plan, observers in environmental groups, industry and municipal government will be looking for clarity on how — and whether — the province will re-establish an independent advisory body to guide its path toward net zero.
Further announcements on membership or a formal decision to reconstitute the council would come after the department completes its evaluation, the communications note said.
