Prince Edward Island has seen a consistent decrease in its greenhouse gas emissions over the past three years, according to a recent report. Despite this progress, the province is focusing on improving its transportation sector to achieve its net-zero target by 2040, as highlighted by Gilles Arsenault, the Minister of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action for P.E.I.
The 2025 National Inventory Report, based on 2023 data, revealed that the total greenhouse gas emissions in P.E.I. were 1.59 megatonnes that year, showing a nearly one percent reduction compared to 2022. Under the Net-zero Carbon Act, the province aims to lower emissions to below 1.2 megatonnes by 2030.
Arsenault emphasized that transportation remains a significant challenge not only in P.E.I. but across the country due to increased traffic. Despite a population growth of nearly 17 percent, the province managed to decrease emissions consistently, attributing this success to various programs, such as home insulation rebates and the heat pump initiative.
The upcoming net-zero action plan, set to be released this winter, will outline P.E.I.’s strategies for the next five years, with a particular focus on transportation. While initiatives like the active transportation fund and “toonie transit” have shown positive results, the province is exploring additional measures like electric vehicle rebates and charging infrastructure to further address transportation emissions.
As P.E.I. grapples with electricity shortages, Arsenault stressed the importance of striking a balance between environmental sustainability and grid reliability. He mentioned the potential purchase of combustion turbine generators by Maritime Electric as a backup solution that would not significantly hinder net-zero objectives.
Arsenault also emphasized the need for continuous education and incentivization to encourage behavior change among Islanders, promoting a greener environment. The latest Minister’s Report on Climate Change highlighted that the government allocated $266.6 million towards climate action initiatives across all departments in 2024-2025.
