Energy

Is Carbon Neutrality a Pipedream?

With the ever changing geo political landscape...is Carbon neutrality now a pipedream?

March 24, 2025

Florence Labrie

The Changing Landscape

With the current political and economic challenges in the United States, it can be easy to lose hope in the fight against climate change. However, many countries are making significant strides toward carbon neutrality, offering a beacon of optimism. While the path is undoubtedly complex, the global push for greener policies, energy efficiency, and innovative solutions suggests that carbon neutrality is far from a pipedream.

Nations Still Fighting for Carbon Neutrality

According to the ACEEE International Energy Efficiency Scorecard, France, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy are leading the charge in energy efficiency. Despite the US currently ranking 10th, nations like China, Mexico, and Canada are making notable progress. From renewable energy investments to ambitious sustainability policies, there’s a global momentum that continues to push forward.

Explore the International Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Buildings: One of the Largest Climate Offenders

Buildings are responsible for more than a third of the world's carbon emissions. However, some countries are implementing robust policies and initiatives that others can learn from. Here are a few inspiring examples:

France’s DPE (Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique): The DPE provides an energy declaration and an energy performance rating for buildings, encouraging owners to improve energy efficiency through renovations and retrofitting. In fact you can’t even sell or rent if your building is below a specific threshold Learn more about the DPE
Italy’s Energy Performance Certificates: Similar to the DPE, these certificates provide transparency on a building’s energy consumption, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Since introduced in 2010, their ownerall building carbon emissions from buildings reduced by 20%! This is absolutely incredible!
Canada’s Municipal and Provincial Policies: Ontario's province-wide Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) program, including Toronto’s EWRB, requires large building owners to report their energy and water use. With fines up to $100k…Canada and Ontario specifically aren’t messing around! This supports energy efficiency practices and drives data-informed decisions to reduce emissions.
Canada’s Renewable Energy Leadership: With initiatives like Hydro Quebec leading in clean energy production, Canada demonstrates how leveraging renewable energy sources can significantly reduce carbon emissions and drive progress toward net zero goals. Now cheap energy has resulted in higher uses of it…however as grids get more strain…changes will soon begin to shift at faster rates.
The Paris Climate Accord: Despite challenges, the commitment of many nations to the goals of the Paris Agreement remains firm. Continuous progress in reducing emissions and investing in clean energy keeps the global community aligned on the path to carbon neutrality.

The Role of Digital Solutions

Real estate software and digital energy consultants are playing an increasingly important role in supporting energy efficiency practices. By providing data-driven insights, these tools help building owners and operators track energy impacts, identify areas for improvement, and streamline compliance with regulations like the EWRB. This is where Citera’s EcoView product comes into effect! Our intuitive platform is the first step towards easily shifting towards carbon neutrality.

Try our EcoView product, and take action today.

The Path Forward

While global efforts are encouraging, sustained progress relies heavily on the continuation and strengthening of regulations. Governments, industries, and individuals must collaborate to ensure compliance, drive innovation, and maintain momentum. By learning from global leaders and implementing proven policies, achieving carbon neutrality becomes a tangible goal rather than a distant dream.

The journey may be long, but with collective commitment and continuous action, a carbon-neutral future is within reach.

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Is Carbon Neutrality a Pipedream?

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Is Carbon Neutrality a Pipedream?

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Is Carbon Neutrality a Pipedream?

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