Key Message
By 2030, the world's energy needs are expected to be 50 per cent greater than today. At the same time, scientists are calling for a 25 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to avoid serious changes in the Earth's climate system. Reconciling these demands while simultaneously adapting to the impacts of climate change is one of the fundamental challenges of the 21st century.
Team
 | · John Drexhage Director - Climate Change and Energy | |
 | · Aaron Cosbey Associate and Senior Climate Change and Trade Advisor | |
 | · Anne Hammill Project Manager | |
 | · David Sawyer Associate | |
 | · Deborah Murphy Associate | |
 | · Dennis Cunningham Project Officer | |
| · Dennis Tirpak Associate | |
| · Frédéric Gagnon-Lebrun Associate | |
 | · Graham Ashford Associate | |
| · Jean Nolet Associate | |
 | · Jenny Gleeson Project Officer | |
| · Jiahua Pan Associate | |
 | · Jo-Ellen Parry Manager, Climate Change and Energy | |
 | · Peter Dickey Associate | |
| · Rochelle Harding Associate | |
Climate Change and Energy
Supporting the transition to a clean, secure and sustainable future
What's New in Climate Change and Energy?
-
A Way Forward: Canadian Perspectives on Post-2012 Climate Policy (PDF - 2 mb)
Published in May 2008
This report assesses the four pillars of a post-2012 climate regime—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing and investment—from a Canadian perspective. These issues form the basis of the Bali Action Plan and have emerged as critical components to post-Bali discussions. The analysis aims to help set the groundwork for discussions in Canada and internationally, examining how these key areas may be incorporated in a post-2012 agreement, in light of Canadian interests and perspectives. -
Furthering EU Objectives on Climate Change and Clean Energy: Building Partnerships with Major Developing Economies (PDF - 609 kb)
IISD has prepared this analysis of how the EU can further its stated objectives on climate change and clean energy by means of cooperation and engagement with developing countries. The focus is how the EU can more effectively strengthen partnerships with major developing economies like Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa to support a global transformation to cleaner energy systems. -
Paving the Way for National Climate Leadership: Provincial and National Actions in Canada (PDF - 541 kb)
A patchwork of initiatives and actions exist across Canadian jurisdictions to address climate change, some of which demonstrate strong leadership and others that point to the need for a shared national vision and commitment to climate change. IISD's John Drexhage and Jenny Gleeson outline the various regional, provincial and national level climate change actions taking place in Canada in the February 2008 issue of EM magazine, the journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. -
Migration and Climate Change (PDF - 962 kb)
Written by Oli Brown for the International Organisation for Migration's Migration Research Series (no.31), this short book analyzes the prospect of large-scale forced migration as a result of climate change and attempts to estimate the developmental impact of potentially millions of people displaced by coastal flooding, extreme weather events and agricultural disruption. -
Assessing the security implications of climate change for West Africa: Country case studies of Ghana and Burkina Faso (PDF - 620 kb)
Prepared by Oli Brown and Alec Crawford, this report investigates the impacts of climate change on security in West Africa at the country level. It sets out scenarios for the future security implications of climate change and identifies particular flash point issues that domestic authorities and external actors should bear in mind when designing development programs.
We stand at a crossroads. The decisions made by national governments, business leaders and individuals today will determine the extent of global climate change and the capacity of communities and countries to adapt to its impacts.
Decisions related to the future production and use of energy will be especially critical. For the two billion people living without modern energy services, an increase in energy production is necessary to meet basic human needs. Energy is also required to fuel economic development and to achieve and maintain a healthy standard of living in all countries. Over the next quarter-century, trillions of dollars will be invested in new energy infrastructure, particularly in developing countries. The energy mix selected and technology used will have a profound impact on our progress toward a sustainable future that includes low emissions of greenhouse gases.
The effects of a warming world are already being felt around the world. Sea ice in the Arctic is thinning and disappearing. Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, disrupting downstream river flows. Rising seas are flooding low-lying areas, particularly affecting Pacific Island states. Extreme weather events—increased rainfall, droughts and floods—are becoming more frequent. To avoid serious disruption to the Earth's climatic system, it is projected that global average temperatures should not be allowed to increase by more than two to three degrees Celsius. Yet if the rate of greenhouse gas emissions remain at current levels, the world could face an increase in average temperature of between three to 10 degrees Celsius.
The challenge before the international community is therefore clear—how will we meet global energy needs and development aspirations while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and responding to current and future climatic changes? The integration of climate change considerations into development priorities; creative responses based on solid research; knowledge-sharing; and urgent actions are all required to meet this challenge.
IISD is dedicated to identifying and promoting innovative solutions that support the transition to a clean, secure and sustainable future. Our approach seeks to bring together developing and developed country issues; corporate and social needs; energy and environment priorities; mitigation and adaptation strategies; and economic, social and environmental well-being. Actively engaged in the international climate change arena since the signing of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, IISD's unique perspective and effectiveness have earned the institute recognition as an international and national leader in climate change policy research.
Members of IISD's Climate Change and Energy team seek to facilitate the exchange of ideas and perspectives by engaging key decision-makers and policy influencers in critical discussions nationally and internationally. Within Canada, members of IISD's team provide expert advice and consultation to federal government departments and the Province of Manitoba, and are becoming more actively engaged with a number of other provincial governments, including Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. IISD also has a growing list of clients in the private sector, including some of Canada's leading energy companies, for whom we provide internal services as well as external consulting.
Contents
-
Energy
IISD undertakes policy research focused on how countries can achieve energy security in a manner that supports sustainable development. -
After Kyoto
IISD undertakes work within and outside of Canada to support the development of a post-2012 climate regime that will facilitate long-term, deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, enhance the capacity of all nations to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and foster sustainable development. -
Markets, Mitigation and Climate Change
IISD seeks to examine how markets and economic instruments—such as the Kyoto Protocol's market mechanisms—can be used to enable developed and developing countries to meet their sustainable development objectives. -
Vulnerability and Adaptation
Our efforts contribute to understanding and enhancing the ability of communities, sectors and countries to prepare for and respond to the anticipated impacts of climate change. -
Climate Convention (UNFCCC)
IISD is actively engaged in reporting on and contributing to the ongoing negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. -
Understanding the Issues
IISD provides background information, current coverage and insight into the state of the international climate change negotiations, and supports knowledge sharing within the international climate community.
Key Publication
Climate Change and Foreign Policy: An exploration of options for greater integration
» John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, Oli Brown, Aaron Cosbey, Peter Dickey, Jo-Ellen Parry, John Van Ham, Richard Tarasofsky, Beverley Darkin, IISD, 2007.Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of this century. Increasing evidence of the impacts of climate change and that human actions are contributing to changes in climate highlights the need for action. There is an increasing realization in the international community that achieving the consensus and commitment needed to take action requires positioning climate change in a broader foreign policy context.
Our Knowledge
» Themes
- Climate Change and Energy
- Economics and SD
- Foreign Investment for SD
- Governance for Sustainable Development
- Information Society
- International Trade
- Measurement and Assessment
- Natural Resources
- Networks & Partnerships
- Security
- Sustainable Markets
- Tomorrow's SD Leaders
» Initiatives
- Finance Alliance For Sustainable Trade (FAST)
- Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI)
- IISDLabs.org
- The IISD Media Blog
