Transition planning support ramps up this fall
CAGBC is bringing confidence and clarity to transition planning
CAGBC Staff on October 2, 2025
- Theme
- Retrofits
Climate change, resilience and adaptation – three concepts that are changing the way building owners are approaching assets and portfolios.
According to the World Economic Forum, 80 percent of the buildings that will be standing in 2050 have already been built. With national and global net-zero carbon targets looming, how we approach retrofits must change to prioritize climate and resilience. Yet, JLL estimates that demand for zero-carbon buildings will outstrip supply by 70 percent by 2030.
That’s why CAGBC is working to support strategic transition planning – a new way of managing capital investments to address carbon and retain asset value for the long-term. At the heart of this movement is Transition Planning Now — an initiative that will provide the support building owners need to develop strategic retrofit plans that prioritize energy efficiency and carbon reductions.
A transition plan is not just a technical document—it’s a call to action. It helps building owners leverage interventions at the asset level to achieve specific sustainability and efficiency goals, effectively extending the value of the asset and minimizing costs by taking advantage of the natural life cycle of building systems.
Bringing confidence & consistency to transition planning.
Taking the guesswork out of decarbonizing building assets
Through Transition Planning Now, CAGBC and partner the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC) are working to bring clarity and focus to transition planning. This growing online platform will serve as a hub for tools and resources as well as capacity-building events and discussions.
An additional area of focus is helping building owners navigate changing codes and regulations, emerging technologies and evolving reporting requirements so they can advance the building and portfolio level plans that will address decarbonization and ensure assets don’t get stranded. One of the first resources on Transition Planning Now is a quick reference guide to help industry keep track of applicable codes, programs, and sustainability frameworks.
A forthcoming report from the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, another partner in the initiative, will also highlight opportunities for Indigenous businesses in green building and transition planning.
Why It Matters
Buildings account for a significant portion of Canada’s carbon emissions. Transition Planning Now aims to guide the sector toward a low-carbon future by providing actionable strategies and fostering a community of changemakers.
Stay connected
New resources, case studies, and events are added regularly. Visit transitionplanningnow.ca to explore the report and check back often for updates that support your sustainable building transformation journey.
Transition Planning Now is supported by Natural Resources Canada through the Codes Acceleration Fund, which aims to accelerate the adoption and compliance of advanced energy codes in Canada.
Interested in more CAGBC initiatives?
Check out our latest:
- Market Primer: Carbon Capture and Utilization in Cementitious Building Materials – Part of an ongoing research project, get an introduction to CCU-CBM technologies and their status in Canada, and the potential role it can plan in decarbonizing the building sector.
- Rapidly Scaling Canada’s Deep Retrofit Market – Featuring perspectives from a broad range of Canadian building professionals, this report explores barriers and opportunities for deep retrofits.
- Reducing Embodied Carbon in Canada’s Buildings – Following the National Embodied Carbon Summit, this report summarizes highest-priority gaps and barriers, proposes solutions, and outlines the next steps for continued collaboration.