The world is navigating a period of profound uncertainty. From war-driven energy price shocks to trade instability and cost-of-living pressures, the systems Canadians rely on are being tested. In moments like these, collective resilience matters, and the energy transition — energy efficiency, electrification and clean energy — sit at the centre of it.
While Canada has taken some actions towards meeting national climate targets, consistent investment in the clean energy transition holds answers to energy security and sovereignty, economic development, affordability and climate. Electricity systems and electrification of energy use can be built domestically and deliver energy locally. These investments create jobs, infrastructure and long-term value here at home. They reduce reliance on volatile global oil and gas markets and keep economic benefits circulating within provinces and across Canada. In an increasingly unstable world, electrification powered by clean energy isn’t just good climate policy — it's future-proof economic policy.
Globally, countries are responding to rapid systemic changes by accelerating their clean energy transitions toward what the International Energy Agency calls the “Age of Electricity.” Canada is well positioned for this shift. We have vast clean electricity potential, a skilled workforce, and deep energy expertise built over decades. When we position ourselves as a global leader in decarbonization, we can unlock monumental opportunities for collaboration and partnership with other “middle power” nations. The question isn’t whether we can lead but whether we can align our own systems and policies quickly enough to seize opportunities.
That alignment is harder than it sounds. Fragmented policymaking and increasingly polarized public discourse make it more difficult to match economic and climate ambition with real-world delivery. This context makes convening to build partnerships and learn from each other’s expertise, and mistakes, more important than ever.
Canada’s opportunity in the Age of Electricity
We convened the 2025 Pembina Summit Inner Circle in partnership with adelphi and The Clean Economy Bridge to tackle one of the most monumental opportunities of our times: building a clean energy economy that supports economic growth and reduces carbon emissions all while helping Canadians become more resilient to geopolitical instability. Bringing together Canadian and European energy experts, the goal was to identify policy priorities to advance Canada’s clean energy transition while addressing Canadians’ most pressing concerns about affordability, economic stability and energy sovereignty.
Participants came from across the energy ecosystem — including utilities, industry, government, labour, Indigenous communities, finance, transportation and more — and engaged in a full day of facilitated dialogue. The gathering combined structured workshops with open discussion that offered a facilitated focus on candid dialogue.
Held in Vancouver, the Summit discussions often focused on B.C., but implications extend beyond provincial borders. B.C.’s successes in energy efficiency, electrification, clean electricity and policy can set an example as provinces and territories navigate their own clean energy transitions.
We surfaced four core themes
First, outdated regulations are constraining innovation. Participants noted that planning, permitting, procurement and utility regulation are often misaligned with today’s clean energy realities, slowing projects and discouraging investment.
Second, siloed policymaking is no longer viable. Decisions made in isolation introduce friction elsewhere in the system, resulting in delays and red tape in lieu of everyday progress. Integrated planning is essential to move at the pace the moment demands.
Third, successful energy projects depend on foundational building blocks: Indigenous leadership and ownership, a skilled and supported workforce, and knowledge-sharing across jurisdictions, both domestic and international.
Finally, the story we tell will shape our outcomes. Policies endure when people understand how they improve daily life — lowering bills, improving air quality, creating jobs, and strengthening communities. Without a credible, transparent public narrative, even strong policies risk never getting off the ground.
What comes next
At Pembina, this work reflects a core strength: convening across differences. Canada has long played this role globally, working across perspectives and borders to find shared ground. That same role matters here at home.
The Pembina Summit Inner Circle was a reminder that Canada, both domestically and internationally, is already doing a lot. With coordination, urgency, and good storytelling, we can build on existing strengths to advance the clean energy transition and successfully navigate an uncertain moment on the world stage.
In a moment that feels increasingly fragmented, bringing people together to advance practical solutions is necessary. The Pembina Summit Inner Circle is one example of what becomes possible when we do.
Discover more
- See the full takeaways and recommendations in our report Where Leaders Align
- Read a Q&A with our senior director of Communities and Decarbonization Monica Curtis in conversation with The Clean Economy Bridge
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