Canada’s newly released 2025 National Model Codes mark a turning point in how the country looks at building performance. For the first time, the codes introduce explicit, measurable requirements to limit operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, alongside new compliance pathways and updated climatic data that reflect the realities of a changing climate.

For municipalities, academics, energy consultants, and developers, this update is more than a technical revision — it’s a policy signal. The federal government is acknowledging what cities have been acting on for years: GHG emissions are a building code issue, and codes must evolve to support climate‑aligned development.