Get practical guidance for transition planning
Learn how to develop and implement effective transition plans with CAGBC
CAGBC Staff on March 31, 2026
- Theme
- Retrofits
As Canada advances toward more resilient, energy efficient buildings, existing buildings will require a more strategic and informed approach to decarbonization. Transition planning is rapidly emerging as a core business strategy, enabling commercial real estate teams to assess risks, prioritize retrofit opportunities, and align upgrades with long-term carbon and financial goals.
As climate-related transition and physical risks intensify, professionals who understand how to develop and implement effective transition plans are becoming essential. Successful plans, however, depend on more than intent. It requires clear guidance, practical tools, and the expertise to confidently translate plans into informed decisions and meaningful carbon reductions across building portfolios.
Recognizing the growing need for effective transition planning, CAGBC launched its Transition Planning Now initiative, supported by partnered RDH Building Science and partnering with Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC) and the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), to develop practical resources that help the sector understand and implement transition plans:
Core to this work is CAGBC’s Carbon Transition Planning Guide, a purpose‑built national tool that explains why decarbonization matters and provides step‑by‑step guidance to identify risks, evaluate retrofit opportunities, and develop a tailored transition plan aligned with capital renewals and high‑performance codes.
Chart a clear course to low-carbon performance, leadership & compliance.
The guidebook was central to the Transition Planning Now Workshop series that took place in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Montréal over the month of March. Facilitated by RDH Building Science, and attended by almost 100 building sector professionals, attendees worked through scenario-based exercises to assess transition risks, identify retrofit opportunities, and map practical carbon reduction strategies. The hands-on sessions using the guide equipped professionals with the knowledge, confidence, and structured process to turn complex transition planning into clear, actionable steps that reduce emissions, improve energy performance, and strengthen long-term asset value.
NEW! Online workshop available
If you missed the in-person workshops, CAGBC is offering a new online version on Wednesday, April 22. This two-hour webinar delivers the same step-by-step overview of the transition planning process, using the Carbon Transition Planning Guide.
Transition Planning Now Webinar – April 22
Participants will learn how to identify relevant energy and emissions requirements, understand the purpose and benefits of transition planning, and explore the Guide’s four-stage process. The session will also examine strategies for aligning retrofit measures with capital planning and provide insights from frequently asked questions related to real-world decarbonization challenges. Through concise technical content, curated Q&A collected from the live Transition Planning Now workshop series, and interactive chat and small-group engagements, this session provides a high-impact learning experience for professionals seeking actionable knowledge to support owners and teams in advancing carbon transition planning.
NEW!! REALPAC Climate-Related Risk Playbooks for Building Owners
Transition Planning now partner REALPAC has released its Climate-Related Risk Playbooks for Building Owners series – one each for Apartment, Industrial, Office and Retail asset classes.
Developed in collaboration with REALPAC members, CAGBC and JLL Canada – with support from Natural Resources Canada – the playbooks provide practical guidance to help asset and investment managers address both physical and transition climate risks.
Each playbook is structured across three key areas, Introduction, Financials, and Technology & Operations, covering regulations, portfolio versus asset-level decision-making, and financial implications. The playbooks also outline approaches to carbon transition planning, emissions reduction prioritization, and physical climate risk assessment and planning (e.g., extreme weather events).
The playbooks are designed to support more informed, data-driven decision-making as the sector adapts to a lower carbon and climate-resilient future.
NEW! Green Building and Indigenous Business
Also available on Transition Planning Now is a report by Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. Green Building and Indigenous Business summarizes findings from interviews with Indigenous businesses, building owners, and industry experts that explore the opportunities and challenges faced by Indigenous-led entities in relation to green buildings, net-zero building standards, green building incentives, carbon transition plans, and deep retrofits.
About Transition Planning Now
Transition Planning Now is an initiative led by the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) and supported by REALPAC, the national association representing executives and decision-makers in the Canadian commercial real estate industry and the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB). Funded by Natural Resources Canada through Codes Acceleration Fund, Transition Planning Now is a project aimed at supporting existing building owners in adoption of and compliance with the highest performance tiers of the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) and other regional high-performance building codes, regulations, and programs that can drive emission reductions from the built environment.