Mr. Chair and honourable members of the committee, thank you so much for the invitation to appear before you today.
My name is Amy Nugent. As you said, I am here representing Oceans North. We are a Canadian charitable organization that supports marine climate action and marine conservation in partnership with indigenous and coastal communities.
With the longest coastline in the world, an exclusive economic zone of six million square kilometres and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence sea system linking the Atlantic Ocean to North America's industrial heartland, Canada's prosperity has always been tied to the sea. It's only natural to build upon that strength as we consider climate competitiveness today.
The communities Oceans North works with and in are also some of the most immediately impacted by climate change. From changing migration patterns for sea mammals and harvesting patterns for hunters to the 133 small craft harbours that sustained damage from hurricane Fiona in 2022, coastal and indigenous communities are at the face of exposure to climate change, as well as the loss of livelihoods that it threatens.
As I am sure the committee has heard over the last weeks, the emissions reduction plan was very far from perfect, but sector-specific pathways are essential for reducing emissions and supporting the long-term economic security and prosperity of Canada, including our coastal communities.
That said, the ERP contained few specific actions to support energy transition in the marine sector. It did, however, commit to developing a national marine climate action plan. It has yet to happen, so there is an opportunity now for members of this committee to call for actions and investment to support Canada's marine industries to commercialize and scale up zero-emission energy, fuels and technologies.
First, globally, ports increasingly are recognized as critical economic and energy infrastructure. The Government of Canada's projects of national interest list rightly highlights the need for port investments that expand the port of Montreal at Contrecoeur and address offshore wind in Nova Scotia and northern port development at Grays Bay in the western Arctic.
Let's be clear. This moment demands a lot more than expanding capacity only or supporting fossil fuel exports. The next round of nation-building investments must align port modernization with the clean energy transition.
Modern electrified ports are multipliers. They connect offshore wind to the grid, enable energy storage, connect rail and road transport, facilitate electrified cargo handling and support supply chains for zero-emission marine fuels. By designing ports as hubs for clean energy and fuels, we can maximize the value of federal infrastructure spending and create lasting economic opportunities.
Globally, our competitors are moving fast. China, the EU and India are electrifying ports to capture cleaner trade. The Global Maritime Forum projects that demand for hydrogen-derived shipping fuels like e-methanol and e-ammonia will exceed 500 million tonnes by 2040—a $1-trillion market and a large-scale job creator. If Canada does not act, our ports risk becoming destinations for the most polluting ships, and we will lose associated innovation opportunities in emerging clean fuel supply chains.
At a smaller scale, we have an immense and immediate opportunity to electrify fleets of ferries and workboats across the country. Electric vessels save money on fuel and maintenance, albeit today they are more expensive up front. They are quieter for workers. They also virtually eliminate air pollution for local communities, thereby improving human health significantly. These boats—fishing boats, tugs, tour boats, and pilot and Coast Guard vessels—can be designed, built, maintained and operated locally, supporting local economies.
Canada is well positioned for this opportunity today. We have abundant wind and solar resources, as my colleague just outlined. We have skilled workers and world-class ports. By embedding electrification, marine clean tech and zero-emission fuel infrastructure into our climate actions, Canada will both reduce emissions and support economic growth.
Thanks so much. I, of course, welcome your questions.