Have your employees already expressed expectations about your company’s environmental values?
Has an important client asked you to disclose your GHG emissions?
Has an investor raised concerns about “climate risks” or “net-zero targets”?
Or maybe you’ve seen a request for proposals requiring an emissions reduction plan?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the Government of Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge could be a strategic opportunity for your organization. And you wouldn’t be alone: nearly 300 companies have already signed on.
1. The first step: Commitment
The Net-Zero Challenge encourages organizations, large and small, to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. More than a symbolic pledge, it provides a clear framework to measure your GHG emissions, set targets, take action, and demonstrate progress.
Participation involves three steps:
- Choose your participation stream (industry, finance, or other sectors)
- Sign a leadership commitment letter
- Complete a baseline inventory of your GHG emissions
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also benefit from a simplified pathway tailored to their capacities.
2. The roadmap
Once enrolled, two key milestones structure your journey:
Within 12 months: the preliminary plan
You must complete a preliminary questionnaire that includes:
• A GHG emissions inventory (Scopes 1, 2, and, where applicable, 3)
• Reduction targets aligned with the Challenge’s guidelines: at least a 40% reduction compared to the baseline year (Technical Guide). These targets are ambitious but slightly less stringent than those of the international Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
• For non-SMEs: questions about climate-related financial disclosure.
Within 24 months: the full plan
You must submit a comprehensive questionnaire, including:
• A more detailed version of the preliminary plan
• Your interim milestones toward 2050
• A scenario analysis to test the robustness of your trajectory
• Mitigation strategies and a policy on carbon offsets
• Details on corporate governance and monitoring of commitments
Each year, you must also publish a progress report. And to move up in the recognition levels—from bronze to diamond—additional criteria apply, including the integration of new Scope 3 categories in your emissions inventory (Official Net-Zero Challenge page).
3. Tangible benefits
By joining the Net-Zero Challenge, your company:
• Strengthens credibility with clients, partners, and investors
• Lowers costs by improving energy and resource efficiency
• Stays ahead of tightening regulations in Canada and worldwide
• Gains access to a network of engaged companies sharing solutions and innovations
• Improves competitiveness in public and private tenders
4. Three years later…
You look back at the moment you said “yes” to the Net-Zero Challenge.
Your GHG emissions are already down 20%, your teams are proud of their contribution, and your clients cite you as a model of responsible business.
You’ve turned growing stakeholder expectations into a real lever for competitiveness.
The Net-Zero Challenge is not just a climate commitment — it’s a strategic investment in the future of your business.
At CCG, we support organizations at every step — from the initial inventory to the implementation of impactful actions.