Industrial Decarbonization in North America: 2026 Survey of US and Canadian Manufacturers
Industrial Decarbonization in North America: 2026 Survey of US and Canadian Manufacturers
In a context where sustainability is no longer optional, industrial companies in North America are reaching a turning point. According to the
2026 OpinionWay survey for Equans, conducted among 1,861 industrial decision-makers across seven countries, including 418 in the United States and 200 in Canada — 94% of US and Canadian industrial leaders consider decarbonization compatible with their business activities. Yet a clear gap separates the two North American markets: 59% of American companies are already operational or in deployment of decarbonization measures, compared to only 33% of Canadian companies, placing Canada last among all surveyed markets.
This article unpacks the key findings for North America, compares them to European trends, and outlines how Equans’ Carbon Shift offer can support manufacturers across the United States and Canada in their energy and industrial transition.
Why Decarbonization Matters for North American Industry in 2026
Climate impact is no longer abstract for industrial operators. 48% of all surveyed companies have been affected by climatic conditions disrupting their operations over the past two years, including supply chain disruptions and material damage.
North America is on the front line:
Canada
45 %
slightly below the global average but still nearly one in two manufacturers.
United States
59 %
of industrial companies report being affected by extreme climate events — the highest rate of any country surveyed.
This reality reinforces the strategic stakes: decarbonization is no longer just an environmental commitment; it is a question of business continuity, asset insurability, and competitiveness.
95% of US decision-makers and 91% of Canadian decision-makers agree that decarbonization is necessary to respond to the climate emergency.
The Main Challenges of Decarbonization for US and Canadian Industries
While the destination is clear, the path remains complex.
North American industrial leaders identify several barriers, which differ noticeably between the two countries.
Top Obstacles in Canada
Canadian companies report the highest average number of obstacles in North America (4.7 obstacles for the largest mid-sized companies) and stand out for their structural barriers:
- Complexity of the proposed solutions (34%) — among the highest rates surveyed.
- Lack of suitable infrastructure for the energy transition (30%).
- Administrative and regulatory complexity (30%).
- Difficulty finding circular-economy channels (28%).
- A persistent awareness gap: only 84% of Canadian leaders agree that solutions are known — the lowest score of all surveyed markets.
Top Obstacles in the United States
American manufacturers report on average 3.4 obstacles to their decarbonization journey, with the largest mid-sized companies (500–4,999 employees) reporting 4.0 obstacles on average:
- Difficulty finding suitable channels for collecting, recycling, and reusing materials (30%) — the highest rate among all surveyed countries.
- Lack of in-house skills to successfully carry out the transition (25%).
- Required investments exceeding company resources (25%).
- Complexity of the proposed solutions (24%).
Political Discourse: A Hidden Brake
A new finding from the 2026 wave: shifts in political and business discourse calling to slow the pace of industrial decarbonization are themselves becoming an obstacle. 58% of US companies and 45% of Canadian companies say this messaging is concretely slowing their transition — a signal that consistency in long-term strategy is now a competitive asset.
Decarbonization Actions and Solutions: What North American Manufacturers Are Deploying
Despite the challenges, both markets are moving forward, and their action mixes reveal distinctive industrial signatures.
Most-Deployed Measures in Canada
Canadian companies show a different pattern, with stronger emphasis on circularity and electrification:
- Reduced water and raw material consumption and improved circularity (58%).
- Adopting an energy-efficient and energy-saving approach (49%).
- Replacing fossil fuels with lower-emission solutions (45%).
- Carbon capture and sequestration (32%).
- Storing and reusing energy (25%).
Most-Deployed Measures in the United States
Among US companies that have already implemented decarbonization measures, the top actions are:
- Energy-efficient and energy-saving approach (64%)
— the leading measure, signaling a strong sobriety-first mindset. - Carbon capture, storage, and sequestration techniques (46%).
- Reducing water and raw material consumption with improved circularity (47%).
- Replacing fossil fuels with lower-emission solutions (43%).
- Storing and reusing energy to limit consumption (38%).
The Energy Mix Replacing Fossil Fuels in North America
When it comes to replacing fossil fuels, the choice of solutions in North America aligns with global trends, but with notable local specificities:
Two North American distinctives stand out:
- Canada is a leader in geothermal energy (36%) and process electrification (32%) — reflecting both its energy mix and its industrial structure.
- The United States leads on heat pumps and hydrogen adoption, with solar-plus-storage now the dominant alternative across the board.
What Drives North American Industries to Act
Decarbonization is rarely launched by a single trigger. According to the survey, the leading drivers among US and Canadian companies that have implemented measures are:
- Company Management
(US : 43 % | Canada : 54 %) : leadership remains the number-one driver. - The Geopolitical Situation
(US : 34 % | Canada : 22 %). - The Government
(US : 27 % | Canada : 39 %) : public policy weighs more heavily in Canada. - Competition
(US : 27 % | Canada : 31 %). - Customers and Prospects
(US : 23 % | Canada : 26 %).
Notably, 45% of US companies and 45% of Canadian companies see decarbonization as a way to secure energy and resource supply — a strategic answer to today’s geopolitical and supply-chain volatility.
The Opportunities of Decarbonization for US and Canadian Companies
Beyond compliance, North American industrial leaders identify concrete business benefits from their decarbonization efforts:
- Positive Impact on Company Reputation
(US : 69 % | Canada : 63 %) - Securing Energy and Resource Supply
(US : 51 % | Canada : 38 %) - Boosting Innovation
(US : 44 % | Canada : 45 %) - Increased Profitability
(US : 43 % | Canada : 30 %) - Pursuing Competitive Advantage
(US : 36 % | Canada : 35 %) - Access to New Markets
(US : 36 % | Canada : 31 %) - Talent Retention and Recruitment
(US : 29 % | Canada : 23 %)
For the largest mid-sized US companies (500–4,999 employees), the average number of perceived benefits climbs to 3.4, well above the global average of 2.9, confirming that scale and ambition reinforce one another.
Climate Adaptation: The Other Side of the Industrial Transition
The 2026 wave introduces a major new theme: climate change adaptation, which complements decarbonization by reducing the negative effects of climate change rather than its causes.
In North America:
- 49% of US companies are operational or deploying adaptation measures, on par with their decarbonization progress.
- Canada lags slightly with 32% operational or in deployment.
- 89% of US leaders and 88% of Canadian leaders
agree that adaptation is essential for maintaining the value and insurability of industrial assets. -
93% of US leaders and 88% of Canadian leaders
agree that adaptation ensures the continuity of operations and infrastructure.
The most-deployed adaptation actions in North America include:
- Backup Solutions for Energy and Telecom Infrastructure
(US : 53 % | Canada : 66 %) - Protection-Equipment Solutions
(US : 56 % | Canada : 42 %) - Detection and Simulation Tools
(US : 51 % | Canada : 62 %) - Organizational Crisis Management Planning
(US : 53 % | Canada : 43 %)
How Equans Carbon Shift Supports Industrial Decarbonization in North America
To help manufacturers in the United States and Canada turn ambition into measurable results, Equans deploys Carbon Shift — a comprehensive, end-to-end offer that covers strategy, design, financing, implementation, and operation of low-carbon solutions.
Carbon Shift addresses every lever identified in this study:
- Decarbonization consulting: carbon footprint assessment, roadmap design, and target setting.
- Energy Performance Contracts (EPC): guaranteed energy savings, no upfront capital required.
- Solar energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): the leading technology choice (90% in the US, 78% in Canada).
- Heat pumps and heat/cold networks: the dominant thermal alternative across markets.
- Industrial waste heat recovery: turning lost energy into a productive asset.
- Cogeneration: high-efficiency combined heat and power.
- E-Mobility: electrification of vehicle fleets and charging infrastructure.
- Thermal energy storage: flexibility for energy-intensive processes.
- Alternative renewable energy solutions: including geothermal, particularly relevant for Canadian operations.
- Smart building and process management: digital tools for real-time energy and water optimization.
Why Carbon Shift Fits North American Manufacturers
- Expert support from audit through commissioning and O&M.
- Tailored, cost-effective solutions matched to the US and Canadian regulatory and energy contexts.
- Access to financing — reducing the capital barrier identified by 25–28% of North American leaders.
- Proven track record of delivered projects with measurable carbon and cost outcomes.
Key Takeaways for North American Industrial Leaders
- Decarbonization is mainstream : 94% of US and Canadian leaders see it as compatible with their business.
- The US is ahead in deployment, Canada in awareness-building — both have room to accelerate.
- Adaptation is the new strategic frontier — protecting assets, insurability, and operationsagainst climate volatility.
- The technology is ready: solar + storage, heat pumps, geothermal, waste heat recovery, and process electrification are all proven.
- The right partner matters: Carbon Shift turns commitment into action — measurable,financed, and operated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Industrial decarbonization is the process of stopping or reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gas emissions from industrial activities. It combines five complementary pathways: energy sobriety and efficiency, energy storage and reuse, replacing fossil fuels with low-emission alternatives, reducing raw-material consumption while improving circularity, and capturing CO₂ at the source or from the atmosphere.
According to the 2026 OpinionWay survey for Equans, 59% of US industrial companies are already fully operational or in active deployment of decarbonization measures, the highest rate among the seven countries surveyed. Canada trails at 33%, the lowest rate, although 33% of Canadian companies have set specific targets and 28% have started initial consideration —suggesting strong momentum building.
The leading barriers vary by country. In the United States, the top obstacle is the difficulty of finding suitable recycling and reuse channels (30%), followed by lack of in-house skills (25%)and required investment levels (25%). In Canada, complexity of solutions (34%), lack of suitable infrastructure (30%), and administrative complexity (30%) dominate. In both countries, shifting political discourse is now cited as a concrete brake by 58% (US) and 45%(Canada) of leaders.
Solar power and battery storage lead the way (90% US, 78% Canada). Heat pumps are the dominant thermal alternative in the US (51%). Canada stands out for geothermal energy (36%)and process electrification (32%) . Hydrogen, waste heat recovery, electric boilers, and thermal storage are all gaining traction depending on industry sector and energy availability.
Climate adaptation is the process of adjusting to current or expected future climate conditions, including extreme weather events, by deploying measures to reduce the negative effects of climate change. Decarbonization, by contrast, addresses the causes of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The two strategies are complementary: decarbonization mitigates future risk, while adaptation protects business continuity, asset value, and insurability today.
The 2026 survey identifies seven main benefits: enhanced reputation (top benefit cited by 69%of US and 63% of Canadian leaders), innovation acceleration, secure energy and resource supply, increased profitability, competitive advantage, access to new markets, and talent attraction and retention. Among the largest US mid-sized companies, leaders cite an average of3.4 distinct benefits — significantly above the global average.
Equans supports North American manufacturers through Carbon Shift, an integrateddecarbonization offer covering strategy and consulting, design, financing, deployment, and operation. The portfolio includes solar PV and battery storage (BESS), heat pumps, heat and cold networks, industrial waste heat recovery, cogeneration, e-mobility, thermal energy storage, alternative renewable energy solutions, and digital energy management. Carbon Shift is designed to reduce upfront capital barriers through performance-based financing, while delivering measurable carbon, cost, and operational outcomes.
The full Wave 2 report, covering France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada, is available here. It presents detailed country-by-country results on both decarbonization and climate change adaptation, based on responses from 1,861 industry decision-makers in companies with 50 to 4,999 employees.
Source: OpinionWay survey for Equans, "Decarbonisation and climate adaptation – SMEs andMid-sized Industrial companies" — Wave 2, March 2026. Sample: 1,861 industrial decision-makers in France, the UK, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada.Survey conducted from 30 January to 18 February 2026, in compliance with ISO 20252.
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