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Climate Change and Energy

Providing sustainable solutions in turbulent times

Climate change is one of the most critical challenges facing humanity today. The process of change unleashed by the rapid rise of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, historically and today, has the capacity to alter our economic systems, ecological networks and social relationships.

To minimize the adverse impacts of climate change, significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are needed on an urgent basis. Yet achieving these reductions will be challenging given current reliance on fossil fuel–based energy systems for the achievement of economic development. Combating climate change therefore requires finding answers to fundamental questions such as:

• How do we significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while still meeting the growing energy needs of developing countries?

• How to we reduce the vulnerability of communities to the impacts of a changing climate?

• How do we do this on an urgent basis?

Creative policy responses based on solid research, shared knowledge and strong partnerships are needed to provide answers to these questions.

IISD is working to provide progressive policy solutions in North America and at the global level that are supported by individuals, companies and governments that have the capacity to take concrete actions. Our work includes:

• Developing well-designed, market-based mechanisms—such as effective emission trading systems—to reduce the costs of emission reductions, incentivize the deployment of low-carbon energy technologies and encourage technology transfer to less developed countries.

• Identifying ways in which trade policy can effectively contribute to climate mitigation efforts and areas of potential conflict between the global climate and trade regimes.

• Promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry practices to simultaneously enhance carbon storage and reduce vulnerability to the impacts of a changing global climate.

• Providing intelligence, advice and analysis to governments and private sector clients on the continual evolution of national and international climate policy.

As well, through our work in the area of adaptation and risk reduction, we are:

• Designing and implementing tools, actions and policies able to help communities and governments in developed and developing countries prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.

• Understanding the potential for climatic changes to exacerbate social tensions and violent conflicts—including the role that adaptation actions may play in either promoting or undermining peace-building efforts.

Contents

• Global Climate Actions
  Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. Cooperation achieved through a diversity of international forums, including the UN Climate Change Convention, bilateral agreements and the work of multilateral organizations, is required if we are to find needed solutions.

• Developing-Country Actions
  To achieve their sustainable development goals, developing countries must overcome the daunting challenge of transitioning to a low-carbon economic development pathway while simultaneously adapting to a changing climate.

• North American Climate and Energy Policy
  Reflecting the integrated energy systems and strong economic linkages between Canada, the United States and Mexico, continental cooperation is required to deliver timely, creative and sustainable policy frameworks for clean energy and climate action in North America.

• Land-Use Management
  Enhanced management of agricultural and forested lands has the potential to play a strong positive role in reducing the release of greenhouse gases and building robust ecosystems that support adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

• Cross-cutting Issues: Trade and Climate Change
  There are a number of ways in which trade policy might help serve climate change goals, but this will only happen if we fully understand the potential and map out how to exploit it. As well, a number of climate change measures may have negative trade impacts, and we need to understand these well enough to take those impacts into account and avoid them where possible.

• Climate Change and Security
  It is increasingly recognized that climate change could affect political and economic stability and thereby increase tensions within and among countries. Through a better understanding of the relationship between climate and security, effective ways to address those problems can be identified.

Related IISD Research

• Adaptation and Risk Reduction
  IISD is designing and implementing the appropriate tools, actions and policies that are needed to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.

• Global Subsidies Initiative
  Subsidies can have a corrosive effect on environmental quality, economic development and governance. A central research stream of the Global Subsidies Initiative examines government subsidies in the energy sector, such as for biofuels and fossil fuels, and their implications for addressing climate change.

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