If you're over 30, you likely remember a time when there was a lot of hand-wringing over the ozone hole and skin cancer, or the threat of acid rain destroying ecosystems.
It might not be grabbing headlines around the globe, but tomorrow's U.N. World Wetlands Day matters. Wetlands across the globe provide many services, from improving water quality and protecting from floods and droughts, to providing habitats for countless flora and fauna, much of which we depend on. More broadly, World Wetlands Day accords us a rare and precious opportunity to celebrate North America’s abundant — but certainly not infinite — freshwater supplies.
If you're over 30, you likely remember a time when there was a lot of hand-wringing and furrowed brows over the ozone hole and skin cancer, as well as the threat of acid rain destroying ecosystems.
Canadian federal just transition legislation should be rooted in principles from the International Labour Organization, guided by an independent advisory body, grounded in social dialogue with workers and employers, and designed to advance nation-to-nation relationships.
Jurisdictions leading on the just transition, such as New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, and the European Union, all have legislation grounding their efforts, and Canada can learn from their examples.
To ensure the just transition reflects the diversity of Canada's regions and sectors, the legislation should establish just transition agencies in each province and territory that can work together alongside a dedicated federal just transition minister and institution.
A legal framework is central to planning and implementing an orderly, just, and equitable transition to a low-carbon economy in Canada. Jurisdictions around the world that are leading the just transition—including New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, and the European Union—all have legislation grounding their just transition efforts. This brief canvases best practices from these jurisdictions and builds off the IISD report Making Good Green Jobs the Law: How Canada Can Build on International Best Practice to Advance Just Transition for All to make recommendations for federal just transition legislation here in Canada.
These days, anyone proposing ambitious new social programs—not to mention a generation-defining agenda like the Green New Deal—is bound to be met with a particular refrain of concern-trolling: "but how are you gonna pay for it?"
As 2023 begins, B.C. Premier David Eby and his new cabinet are setting priorities and determining which policies of the Horgan government to carry forward and which to cast aside. Liquefied natural gas exports touch on a host of critical issues that Eby and key ministers are considering.
I am pretty accustomed to reading headlines detailing the latest health issues plaguing our freshwater fish. It comes with the territory as an ecotoxicologist working on the health of North America's relatively abundant, but certainly not infinite, freshwater supplies.
Energy scenarios have a key role to play in guiding the energy transition by informing investor expectations and policy decision making. The recent IISD Navigating Energy Transitions report conducts an unprecedented analysis of the most influential modelled pathways consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C. The research finds that all major 1.5°C scenarios agree: there is no room for new oil and gas development. This conclusion, shared by the International Energy Agency, has important implications for fossil fuel production both globally and in Canada and must be accounted for in Canadian policy-making.
This webinar unpacks key findings from IISD’s report, outlining barriers to energy transitions and highlighting solutions to overcome such challenges. Additionally, it provides Canadian policy-makers and financial institutions with information on how they can navigate the current energy crisis, while maintaining ambition to limit warming to 1.5°C. The event connects to current policy developments, including the proposed cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector and clean electricity regulations.
Following a presentation of the report’s key findings, panelists reflect on intersections with key Canadian policy areas and industries, and engage in a moderated discussion on the national implications of 1.5°C energy scenarios.
In November 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a warning about the dangers of climate change at the United Nations’ 26th climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
This week, we take stock of the whirlwind that was 2022. Today we present the year in numbers. Plus, we do the math on which lobbyists registered the most meetings. Also, an excerpt from the farewell speech Jim Carr had hoped to deliver in Parliament.