The federal government has paused a policy that would require automakers to reach certain targets for sales of zero-emissions vehicles, including EVs and plug-in hybrids. It will also spend 60 days reviewing the policy, called the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard , the government announced on Friday.

Is that a big setback for the climate?

Not necessarily, say climate policy researchers and representatives of the EV industry — what matters is where we go from here. And they say the review could result in tweaks to the policy that are positive for both consumers and the climate.

Policy has long-term goal; setback is short-term

The federal government had planned to require 20 per cent of new light-duty vehicles sold in 2026 to be zero-emissions, including EVs and plug-in hybrids

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