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Key Message

Increasingly, we are seeing mitigation, adaptation and development objectives bundled under "Prosperity and Resiliency" agendas. This bundling has broadened the mitigation tent, with climate-focused overseas development assistance starting to prioritize investments with multiple co-benefits.

Team


David Sawyer· David Sawyer
Vice-President, Climate, Energy and Partnerships
Jo-Ellen Parry· Jo-Ellen Parry
Deputy Director, Climate Change and Energy
Anne Hammill· Anne Hammill
Program Leader, Adaptation and Risk Reduction
Aaron Cosbey· Aaron Cosbey
Associate and Senior Climate Change and Trade Advisor
Christopher Beaton· Christopher Beaton
Research and Communications Officer
Deborah Murphy· Deborah Murphy
Associate
Douglas Russell· Douglas Russell
Associate
Frédéric Gagnon-Lebrun· Frédéric Gagnon-Lebrun
Associate
Jean Nolet· Jean Nolet
Associate
Jessica Boyle· Jessica Boyle
Project Manager
Julie Dekens· Julie Dekens
Project Manager
Marius Keller· Marius Keller
Project Manager
Matthew McCandless· Matthew McCandless
Bioeconomy Team Leader
Peter Wooders· Peter Wooders
Senior Economist
Philip Gass· Philip Gass
Project Manager
Seton Stiebert· Seton Stiebert
Associate
Daniella Echeverría· Daniella Echeverría
Research Assistant
Dale Beugin· Dale Beugin
Associate
Jason Dion· Jason Dion
Project Officer and Economist
Maxine Cunningham· Maxine Cunningham
Project Officer
Alicia Natalia Zamudio Trigo· Alicia Natalia Zamudio Trigo
Project Officer
Melissa Harris· Melissa Harris
Project Manager
Scott McFatridge· Scott McFatridge
Associate
Angela Marceniuk· Angela Marceniuk
Project and Outreach Assistant

Climate Change and Energy

Providing sustainable solutions in turbulent times

What's New in Climate Change and Energy?

  • Ontario Moving in the Right Direction on Climate Policy: IISD input on climate policy design to the Ministry of the EnvironmentOntario Moving in the Right Direction on Climate Policy: IISD input on climate policy design to the Ministry of the Environment
    A proposed move by Ontario to establish elements of a carbon pricing system is a major step forward for climate policy. This move forward could define how a provincial system covering multiple sectors might be viewed under federal equivalency. It also provides another opportunity to establish carbon bridges between sectors and jurisdictions to keep compliance costs low. Importantly, it provides an opportunity for Ontario to implement cost-effective policy that minimizes competiveness impacts. Our modeling suggests that, under current proposals, compliance costs could be well below $15 per tonne in 2020 if full complacence flexibility is enabled. Emission reductions could be in the order of 3 Mt, or 7 per cent below a forecast of 2020 industrial emissions.

  • IISD becomes a Non-State Member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition
    Through the Climate Change and Energy team, IISD has become a non-state member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC). The goal of the CCAC is to catalyze rapid reductions in these harmful pollutants to protect human health and the environment now and slow the rate of climate change within the first half of this century. IISD joins over 50 state and non-state partners in this task under the CCAC. IISD views the challenges associated with addressing SLCPs within the larger context of supporting a transition to low-carbon, climate resilient development. For more on IISD’s work in this area, click here.

  • A Mirage in the Deserts of Doha? Assessing the outcomes of COP 18
    The recently concluded two-week conference in Doha, Qatar, marked the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

    This commentary provides an analysis of the outcomes, arguing that insofar as the process did achieve the key procedural goals of securing a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, seeing the AWG-LCA track draw to a close, and continuing to shape discussions under the Durban Platform, Doha can be measured a “success.” But insofar as concrete or substantial progress was made on key issues including the architecture of a post-2020 agreement, mitigation and financing commitments, the outcomes were woefully inadequate.

  • Designing Effective REDD+ Safeguards Information Systems: Building on existing systems and country experiences
    A key determinant of REDD+ success will be the continued development and implementation of safeguards. An important element of REDD+ safeguards is systems for providing information on how safeguards are addressed and respected. As negotiators gather for the latest round of UNFCCC negotiations in Bangkok, IISD has released a policy brief outlining key messages for negotiators and issues for consideration in the design and implementation of effective safeguard information systems for REDD+.

  • Regulating Carbon Emissions in Canada
    Recognizing the need to rethink climate policy along regulatory lines, IISD’s Climate Change and Energy program has launched the initiative, Regulating Carbon Emissions in Canada.



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:

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:

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

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