Staff and Associates
John Drexhage
Mr. Drexhage's work on climate change is based on 17 years of experience on the issue, first as a domestic advisor and international negotiator on climate change with the government of Canada and then as an expert analyst and manager for IISD.
Drexhage’s expertise covers a broad range of areas related to climate change, and he is currently focusing on regulatory frameworks for greenhouse gas emissions, post-2012 climate change regimes, market based instruments (covering allowance and credit based systems), climate change in the context of sustainable development, governance issues, energy policy and more fully exploring linkages between adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development.
Drexhage was also a Leading Author with Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He was Lead Author on Chapter 11 of WG 3, focusing on mitigation from a cross-sectoral responsibility. His specific responsibilities focused on international spillover effects, synergies and trade offs with other policy areas and mitigation and adaptation – synergies and trade offs.
Prior to his current position with IISD, he was Associate Director, with the International Relations Directorate, (Environment Canada) coordinating the Government's policy positions in formal negotiations on climate change. Prior to this position in 1998, his other roles with Environment Canada in respect of Climate Change, included Manager Climate Change - International, Global Air Issues Branch and Senior Policy Advisor, Domestic Climate Change Program representing Environment Canada in federal-provincial negotiations on domestic actions on climate change.
Drexhage is very involved in energy policy, and analysis and modeling as the leader of the climate and energy group at IISD, which provides regular consulting services to energy companies like Manitoba Hydro, TransCanada Pipelines, Conoco Phillips, Suncor Energy and a wide range of provinces, including BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. His group has also conducted extensive analysis for government agencies at the federal level (Environment Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada and Natural Resources Canada) and provincial level (Manitoba Government, Alberta Government and Ontario Government).
He also oversees a growing and robust program on adaptation and sink related activities, focusing on building capacity in developing countries on strengthening negotiating positions and in implementing these activities in an integrated manner with country’s respective policy priorities on poverty eradication and sustainable development.
John is a Board member to the Voluntary Carbon Standard and the European based Climate Strategies research network.
Education
- M.A., International Affairs, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. Specialization in negotiations and conflict resolution. Received notice of distinction for thesis and oral defense.
- B.Ed., University of Toronto, Teachers College, Toronto, Ontario. Specialties in areas of Canadian history and political science.
- B.A. (Honours), Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Double major in political philosophy and history. Dean’s List member all four years.
Mr. Drexhage left IISD in 2011.
Publications
A Victory for Multilateralism? A commentary on the UNFCCC negotiations in Cancun, Mexico
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2010Canada's Role in the Global Energy Picture: Making the case for a more coherent national energy approach
Paper: Philip Gass, John Drexhage, 2010Energy: The global picture and its implications for Canada's role in going forward
Paper: Philip Gass, John Drexhage, 2010Expanding Agriculture's Role in the International Climate Change Regime: Capturing the opportunities
Paper: Deborah Murphy, Matthew McCandless, John Drexhage, 2010The Emerging International Climate Change Regime: Opportunities and challenges for the Canadian agricultural sector
Paper: Deborah Murphy, Matthew McCandless, John Drexhage, 2010Action on Implementation of Copenhagen Accord Most Critical for Canada
Commentary: John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, 2010Climate Change and Foreign Policy in Canada: Intersection and Influence
Paper: John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, 2010Canada and Climate Change: Where to now?
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2010Copenhagen: A Memorable Time for All the Wrong Reasons?
Commentary: John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, 2009In the Market for Climate Change Action: Market mechanisms and the achievement of global emissions reductions
Commentary: Jessica Boyle, John Drexhage, 2009Barcelona Postscript
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2009How Canada can restore its reputation on climate change
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2009The Barcelona Negotiations on Climate Change: Where the Spirit is willing?
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2009House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development—Statement by John Drexhage
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2009Bangkok Talks on Climate Change: Matter over Form is the Only Way Ahead - An IISD Commentary
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2009Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations: Outcomes of the Bonn Climate Change Talks
Paper: Deborah Murphy, John Drexhage, Philip Gass, 2009Financing for Developing Countries
Paper: Deborah Murphy, John Drexhage, Dennis Tirpak, Philip Gass, 2009Sobering Days in Bonn
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2009Encouraging Developing Country Participation in a Future Climate Change Regime
Paper: Deborah Murphy, Dennis Tirpak, John Drexhage, Frédéric Gagnon-Lebrun, Jean Nolet, Jo-Ellen Parry, Peter Wooders, 2009International Carbon Market Mechanisms in a Post-2012 Climate Change Agreement
Paper: Deborah Murphy, John Drexhage, Peter Wooders, 2009Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations: Outcomes of the Bonn Climate Change Talks, March-April 2009
Paper: Deborah Murphy, John Drexhage, 2009Expanding Agriculture’s Role in a Post-2012 Climate Change Regime
Paper: Deborah Murphy, Caroline De Vit, John Drexhage, Jean Nolet, 2009A Plea for Reason
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2009Environmental Policies under an Obama Administration: Is Change in the Air?
Commentary: Philip Gass, John Drexhage, 2009Market Mechanisms for Sustainable Development in a Post-2012 Climate Regime: Implications for the Development Dividend
Paper: Deborah Murphy, Aaron Cosbey, John Drexhage, 2008Climate Change and Global Governance: Which Way Ahead?
Paper: John Drexhage, 2008A Way Forward: Canadian perspectives on post-2012 climate policy
Book: John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, Jenny Gleeson, 2008Furthering EU Objectives on Climate Change and Clean Energy: Building Partnerships with Major Developing Economies
Book: Deborah Murphy, John Drexhage, Aaron Cosbey, Dennis Tirpak, Christian Egenhofer, 2008Paving the Way for National Climate Change Leadership: Provincial and National Actions in Canada
Paper: John Drexhage, Jenny Gleeson, 2008Climate Change and Global Governance: Which Way Ahead? (Excerpt)
Excerpt: John Drexhage, 2008Statement to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2008House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development November 27th, 2007
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2007Climate Change and Global Governance: Which Way Ahead?
Paper: John Drexhage, 2007Turning the "Clean Energy" Superpower Oxymoron into Reality
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2007Market Mechanisms for Sustainable Development: How Do They Fit in the Various Post-2012 Climate Efforts?
Paper: Aaron Cosbey, Deborah Murphy, John Drexhage, 2007Statement to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development (June 19, 2007)
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2007Climate Change and Foreign Policy: An exploration of options for greater integration
Book: John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, Oli Brown, Aaron Cosbey, Peter Dickey, Jo-Ellen Parry, John Van Ham, Richard Tarasofsky, Beverley Darkin, 2007The beginnings of a plan
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2007Statement to House of Commons Legislative Committee on Bill C-30
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2007Statement by John Drexhage, IISD’s Director of Climate Change and Energy, to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2006Bush Blinks; The U.S. now at the climate change table
Commentary: John Drexhage, David Runnalls, 2005Which Way Forward? - Issues in developing an effective climate regime after 2012
Book: Aaron Cosbey, Warren Bell, Deborah Murphy, Jo-Ellen Parry, John Drexhage, Anne Hammill, John Van Ham, 2005Canada in a Post-2012 World: A Qualitative Assessment of Domestic and International Perspectives
Book: Warren Bell, John Van Ham, Jo-Ellen Parry, John Drexhage, Peter Dickey, 2005Realizing the Development Dividend: Making the CDM Work for Developing Countries (Phase I Report) - Executive Summary
Paper: Aaron Cosbey, Jo-Ellen Parry, Jodi Browne, Yuvaraj Dinesh Babu, Preety Bhandari, John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, 2005Realizing the Development Dividend: Making the CDM Work for Developing Countries (Phase I Report)
Paper: Aaron Cosbey, Jo-Ellen Parry, Jodi Browne, Yuvaraj Dinesh Babu, Preety Bhandari, John Drexhage, Deborah Murphy, 2005Ottawa’s “green” budget a good first step
Commentary: John Drexhage, 2005Where to Next? Future steps of the global climate regime
Paper: Taishi Sugiyama, Kristian Tangen, Henrik Hasselknippe, Axel Michaelowa, John Drexhage, Jiahua Pan, Jonathan Sinton, Arild Moe, 2004Russian Ratification Puts Pressure on Canada
Commentary: David Runnalls, John Drexhage, 2004
Audio/Video
The Kyoto Mechanisms: The Key to Combating Climate Change? - Summary
Video: John Drexhage, 2010The Kyoto Mechanisms: The Key to Combating Climate Change?
Video: John Drexhage, 2010