The delay is frustrating efforts to transition to zero-emission transportation for children, says Abby Lefebvre at the Ecology Action Centre

On February 23, 2024, the government of Canada announced it would conduct a feasibility study on electric school buses for Atlantic Canada.

This study is led by the Nova Scotia Department of Education in collaboration with Council of Atlantic Minsters of Education and Training (CAMET). It is intended to equip the governments of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick with information about transitioning school bus fleets to cleaner, more sustainable options — a key step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering healthier communities.

However, one year later, CAMET has yet to release the results of the study, leaving decisions on regional school bus electrification in limbo.

Health costs

The delay in releasing the findings of this feasibility study has serious implications for the environment, our communities and the future of sustainable transportation in the Atlantic Canadian region.

School bus fleets are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. With deadlines for emissions reduction targets nearing, the transition to electric buses is urgent.

In addition to climate impacts, diesel-powered school buses are linked to health risks.

Diesel emissions are a well-known cause of respiratory issues, including asthma and bronchitis, especially in children, who are particularly vulnerable to air pollution.

Studies show that communities near heavy traffic and diesel exhaust suffer from higher rates of heart disease, respiratory illnesses and premature death. And according to an ABACUS data report, 83 per cent of parents in Canada are concerned about the health impacts of diesel fumes on their children.

Transitioning to electric school buses would reduce these health risks, providing a safer, cleaner environment for kids and their communities.

Call for disclosure

The Nova Scotia government also pledged in a bill in 2023 to electrify 50 per cent of its government-owned transportation fleets (including school buses) by 2030, as part of its broader climate action strategy. Withholding the release of the feasibility study is counter to this promise and delays action to reduce emissions and lead the way in sustainable transportation.

Without access to critical information on electric school bus feasibility, Nova Scotia is unable to move forward with electrification plans, keeping outdated, polluting diesel buses on our roads.

The longer we wait for electrification, the longer Nova Scotia will miss out on savings in fuel and maintenance costs, as well as job creation in the growing clean energy sector. More importantly, while diesel buses operate, our children continue to breathe polluted air, putting their long-term health at risk.

Decisions about climate action should be based on reliable information.

We need CAMET to release the findings of the feasibility study so Atlantic Canada may move forward in transitioning to electric school buses. It’s time for Nova Scotia to demonstrate real leadership in reducing emissions from the transportation sector and improving the health of our kids and communities now and for the future.

Abby is an energy coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre. Abby lives and works in the Greater Halifax Area in Nova Scotia.