Protecting our natural resources while advancing a green future for generations to come.
Last updated: April 28, 2026
Preserving New Brunswick’s natural resources and ensuring a healthy environment is critical for today’s residents and future generations. Specific initiatives aimed at protecting clean air and water, advancing sustainability and adapting to environmental challenges will help us enhance our province’s natural beauty and health.
Greenhouse gas emission (GHG) intensity is an indicator of progress in transitioning to a greener economy. It is calculated using data from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada.
The formula for GHG uses actual and projected emissions across all major economic sectors and the reporting frameworks for
New Brunswick.
Because GHGs (historic and projected) vary year over year, jurisdictions usually select long-term targets and track their progress towards a longer-term target.
The result for 2025 is 266 tonnes of GHG per million dollars of GDP.
Sources: Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada
Energy and/or greenhouse gas savings will result from the implementation of energy efficiency programs across all fuels and all sectors by NB Power.
Energy and greenhouse gas savings are calculated based on implementation of all energy efficiency programs across all sectors (residential, commercial, industrial) and all fuels (electricity, gas, oil, propane, etc.).
Values in the graph are presented in terms of gigajoules (GJ) for energy.
The result for 2025 is 567,334 GJ.
Source: NB Power
Air quality is a key component of environmental and human health and can be impacted by a wide variety of air pollutants. The Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME) identified four key air pollutants that are common in most developed areas of the world and has developed a system for grading air quality across Canada based on these four pollutants.
New Brunswick collects and reports the required data to the National Air Pollution Surveillance System. Each year, Canada's Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS) statistics are calculated for four key air pollutants through reporting monitors in the province (of which there are 68, spread across 36 locations). These values are graded in accordance with CCME categories (excellent, good, fair or poor).
The 2024 result, as reported in 2025, was 74%.
Source: New Brunswick Air Quality Monitoring Network
Providing good air quality in schools is vital for healthy learning. GNB has introduced capacity to measure air quality in all NewBrunswick schools by installing CO2 monitors that allow air quality to be monitored, recorded and analyzed. CO2 monitoringprovides a cost-effective indicator of ventilation effectiveness, which strongly affects overall indoor air quality.
New Brunswick has 295 schools in total. Schools designed after 2004 have more efficient systems to control indoor air quality.90 schools now have updated CO2 monitoring in place, representing 30.5% of all schools. By June 2026, all remaining schoolswill also have CO2 monitoring. By 2027, all schools will have ventilation systems. These measures and upgrades will help ensuregood indoor air quality, optimize system performance, and guide future improvements.
WorkSafe NB recommends that CO2 exposure less than 5,000 ppm for up to 8 hours, and below 30,000ppm for under 15-minutes, is considered safe.
All schools will have CO2 monitoring in place by June 2026 at which time targets will be set and a graph will be developed.
Source: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
Update the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to guarantee that everyone in New Brunswick has the right to clean air and water.
The government engaged with New Brunswickers as it prepares to update the Clean Air Act.
The government invited New Brunswickers to share their ideas on how the Clean Water Act could be improved.
New Brunswickers can now use an updated portal to access water quality data for the province's lakes and rivers.
Provide New Brunswick residents 25 per cent off the cost of provincial park passes to encourage exercise and spending time outdoors.
On May 13, 2025, government announced that New Brunswick residents to enjoy 25 per cent discount on daily and seasonal provincial park passes.
Work with communities to increase active transportation infrastructure, including walking and cycling trails, to build healthier communities.
The government is investing in the construction of a new recreation facility in Memramcook, as well as upgrades to the municipal water system.
The government has launched a strategy and action plan aimed at increasing physical activity.
Increase support for home energy retrofits, free heat pump program, and introduce a provincial program for solar retrofits.
On February 28, 2025, government announced eligible homeowners can now receive up to $15,000 from the provincial and federal governments to help make the transition.
Deliver an energy plan that provides affordable, reliable, clean energy for New Brunswickers and New Brunswick businesses. While we move to a 100 per cent non-emitting grid, we will work with the federal government to ensure big emitters bear the brunt of the price on carbon.
Entitled Fit for the Future – A Comprehensive Review of NB Power, the report contains 50 recommendations to help shape decisions for the future of the utility.
Ensure all government buildings are net zero and that our vehicle fleet, including school buses, are electrified by 2035.
A newly completed 500-kilowatt solar energy project at Saint John Laundry will generate about 25 per cent of the facility’s electricity needs.
Increase our conservation lands and waters from 10 per cent to 15 per cent and work with communities, First Nations, and experts to develop a plan to reach 30 per cent.
On February 5, Natural Resources Minister John Herron provided a statement on protected natural areas, reaffirming the government’s commitment commenting this will be done by adding new lands, not by revisiting or weakening existing protections.
Review and update our emergency preparedness plan for dealing with the increasing number of extreme climate change-related weather events.
The government has released its first climate change risk assessment, which emphasizes the importance of planning ahead.
Implement a coastal erosion plan to protect communities.
The government sought feedback from New Brunswickers to inform a "state of the coast" report that will guide efforts to protect coastal communities.