Summary Report: Opportunities for Federal Leadership on Building Decarbonization
A national dialogue on how retrofits and electrification can unlock jobs, investment, and resilience across Canada’s building sector.
Canada’s building sector is at a critical inflection point.
This dialogue, co-hosted by Urban Climate Leadership and the Building Decarbonization Alliance, brings together insights from leaders across finance, housing, energy, and industry to identify opportunities for federal leadership to accelerate building decarbonization.
The signal from participants was clear: the opportunity is not just about emissions reduction. It is about positioning buildings as core economic infrastructure. From a $6 trillion asset base to nearly half a million jobs, this sector is already a major economic force, but it is not yet recognized or coordinated as one.
At a time when federal priorities are focused on affordability, productivity, and economic resilience, this report outlines how building retrofits and electrification can be reframed as a nation-building opportunity. It highlights the policies, financing mechanisms, and narrative shifts needed to unlock private capital, strengthen domestic supply chains, and deliver healthier, more resilient buildings across Canada.
📄 Read the full report to explore how a more aligned, economically grounded approach can move building decarbonization from the margins to the centre of Canada’s national agenda.