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Climate Risks Associated With New Housing in Canada
The report details a spatial modelling approach to assess climate risks for new housing in Canada, focusing on flood and wildfire hazards under current and 2030 RCP 4.5 scenarios. It describes the allocation of new units across 5,161 census subdivisions and the specific estimation methods used to determine average annual loss (AAL) for these new developments.
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Document type: Report
Assessment of Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Canada
The report finds that the Government of Canada is providing an inefficient fossil fuel subsidy to the oil industry by charging transportation tolls on the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMP) that are significantly below marketplace costs. Using three different valuation methods, the report estimates the total subsidy to be between CAD 8.7 billion and CAD 18.8 billion, which translates to a cost of CAD 581 to CAD 1,255 per Canadian household. The analysis concludes that the project fails all criteria for an 'efficient' subsidy and that the overall cost-benefit analysis shows a net cost to Canada of CAD 23.1 billion. To phase out this subsidy, the author recommends either raising tolls to economic levels or implementing a cost-recovery levy of CAD 1.00 to CAD 2.00 per barrel on Western Canadian oil shipments.
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Document type: Report
Fighting Wildfires with Low-Carbon Buildings
The document examines the intersection of forest management and sustainable construction in Colorado. It highlights how a century of fire suppression and climate change have led to overstocked forests, increasing the risk of high-intensity wildfires. The authors propose scaling the production of mass timber—engineered wood products—using small-diameter trees harvested during thinning operations. This approach aims to offset the high cost of forest treatments, create local jobs, and reduce the embodied carbon of buildings compared to steel and concrete. The report concludes with a call for coordinated action from policymakers, developers, and insurers to establish a 'wood-first' procurement strategy and a state-level Mass Timber Action Plan.
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Document type: Report
Request for Precautionary Measures Pursuant to Article 25 of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Rules of Procedure Concerning Serious and Urgent Risks of Irreparable Harm Arising Out of the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project in British Columbia, Canada (Case N° 15.329)
The Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC) is seeking urgent intervention from the IACHR to prevent the approval of the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project, a gold and silver mine in British Columbia. SEITC argues that Canada and B.C. have failed to obtain the free, prior, and informed consent of the seven member Tribes whose traditional territories include the Unuk River watershed. The document highlights risks of toxic pollution from tailings dams and acid mine drainage, which could devastate salmon and eulachon (hooligan) populations essential for the Tribes' subsistence and culture. SEITC contends that B.C.'s current consultation process is deficient and discriminatory because it excludes Alaskan-based Tribes from the 'participating Indigenous nation' framework used for B.C.-based First Nations.
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Document type: Report
Canada’s clean energy transition: Provincial road maps
The Canadian Climate Institute advocates for 'electric federalism,' where provinces lead energy transitions with federal funding and guardrails. It argues that while Canada has a strong non-emitting electricity base, meeting emission goals requires doubling or tripling grid capacity. The author contends that provincial governments lack aligned climate and energy policies, creating uncertainty for utilities. To resolve this, the document suggests the federal government adopt the Electricity Advisory Council's recommendation to replace strict 2035 net zero electricity deadlines with a single requirement: the creation of energy road maps targeting net zero domestic energy by 2050 with five-year milestones.
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Document type: Statement
UN RÉSEAU ÉLECTRIQUE PLUS GRAND, PLUS PROPRE ET PLUS INTELLIGENT POUR UN AVENIR CARBONEUTRE AU MANITOBA
The document analyzes the electrification needs of Manitoba, comparing Hydro-Manitoba's Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) with Navius Research modeling. It concludes that while electricity demand is expected to nearly double by 2050, the pace and method of electrification—particularly in heating—will determine the grid's cost and carbon intensity. The authors recommend a coordinated governance approach, including a permanent decision-level task force and a comprehensive carbon-neutral energy roadmap, to ensure the transition is affordable and inclusive of Indigenous peoples.
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Document type: Policy brief
Building Natural Infrastructure Capacity Across Professions and Skilled Trades in the Canadian Prairies
The report identifies a capacity gap in the Canadian Prairies where the demand for natural infrastructure is growing, but the workforce remains primarily trained in 'grey' (human-made) infrastructure. It argues that scaling natural infrastructure requires a multidisciplinary approach involving engineers, planners, biologists, and skilled trades. The document proposes expanding professional development through industry associations, linking training to climate resilience and federal funding, and integrating Indigenous rights-based approaches to ensure sustainable and equitable project delivery.
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Document type: Report
INDIGENOUS SEED KEEPING: A CULTURAL FOOD AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION PRACTICE
The document examines Indigenous seed keeping in Canada as a critical tool for climate adaptation and food sovereignty. It highlights how colonialism and climate change jointly threaten the preservation of culturally significant seed varieties and the transmission of traditional knowledge. The analysis reveals a significant gap between the needs of Indigenous seed keepers—who require multi-year, flexible, and self-determined funding—and the prescriptive, market-oriented models used by Canadian government and philanthropic actors. It specifically critiques the National Adaptation Strategy and the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy for failing to recognize seed adaptation as a key climate action. The report concludes with recommendations for Indigenous-led governance models and low-barrier resource distribution to support the resilience of Indigenous food systems.
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Document type: Case study
Decolonizing Climate Policy in British Columbia
The document examines the role of First Nations' Ceremony in shaping climate policy in British Columbia, highlighting the disconnect between colonial policy frameworks and Indigenous worldviews. It argues that Ceremony is not merely symbolic but a pragmatic governance tool that fosters interconnectedness and responsibility toward the Land. The authors critique historical and current Canadian policies for marginalizing Indigenous rights and recommend a paradigm shift that centres the well-being of the Land, implements UNDRIP, and integrates Ceremony into co-development processes between governments and First Nations.
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Document type: Case study
Décoloniser la politique climatique en Colombie-Britannique
The document examines the role of Indigenous Ceremony as a foundational framework for climate policy in British Columbia. It argues that colonial policy structures, characterized by inequality and a disconnect from the land, are inadequate for addressing the climate crisis. By integrating Ceremony—which emphasizes reciprocity, responsibility, and interconnection with the Earth—into governance, the author suggests a paradigm shift from profit-centered to Earth-centered decision-making. The text highlights historical colonial harms, such as the potlatch ban and forced relocation to flood-prone reserves, and recommends that federal and provincial governments support First Nations-led policy development aligned with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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Document type: Case study
CONSERVATION AUTOCHTONE DES SEMENCES : UNE PRATIQUE DE L’ALIMENTATION CULTURELLE ET DE L’ADAPTATION AUX CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES
The document examines how Indigenous seed keepers in Canada adapt ancestral and new seed varieties to changing climatic conditions to ensure food sovereignty. It highlights that these efforts are severely hindered by the legacy of colonialism—including land dispossession and the disruption of intergenerational knowledge transfer—and by a lack of culturally appropriate, multi-year funding. The report further argues that Canadian federal climate and agricultural strategies, such as the National Adaptation Strategy and the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, largely erase Indigenous leadership and fail to recognize seed conservation as a critical climate action.
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Document type: Report
Independent Assessment of Carbon Pricing Systems in Canada Modeling Appendix
The document outlines the gTech-IESD modeling framework used to assess Canadian carbon pricing. It details ten policy scenarios ranging from 'No policy' to 'Announced policies with binding LETS systems', alongside sensitivity analyses for oil prices and technology costs. The report specifies macroeconomic inputs from the PBO and CER, and provides a comprehensive inventory of legislated and announced federal and provincial climate policies, including fuel charges, Large Emitter Trading Systems (LETS), and various investment tax credits.
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Document type: Report
Why Liquefied Natural Gas Expansion in Canada Is Not Worth the Risk
The document assesses the viability of Canada's planned LNG expansion, concluding that it is incompatible with 1.5°C global warming targets and economically precarious. It highlights that new facilities would increase domestic emissions and divert clean energy resources. Economically, the brief warns of a global supply glut by 2030, with Canadian projects struggling to compete against lower-cost producers in Qatar and the United States, thereby risking significant losses for taxpayers and investors.
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Document type: Policy brief
HEAT EXCHANGE
The report finds that a cost-optimal path to net zero in Canada requires a massive shift toward electrification of building heat, with electricity powering 78% to 91% of annual space heating demand by 2050. It argues that continued expansion of gas networks is inconsistent with these goals and risks creating stranded assets. The analysis highlights a critical gap in provincial policy leadership, noting that current utility regulation—which incentivizes infrastructure growth—is ill-suited for the energy transition. To mitigate risks, the report recommends that provincial governments legislate net zero targets, mandate electrification for new buildings, and equip regulators to manage the gradual contraction of gas networks while investing in electricity capacity and peak demand management.
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Document type: Report
Why Liquefied Natural Gas Expansion in Canada Is Not Worth the Risk
The document assesses the viability of Canadian LNG expansion, concluding that it is incompatible with climate goals and economically precarious. It highlights that new facilities would increase domestic emissions and potentially strand assets due to a projected global supply glut and declining demand in advanced economies. The brief specifically notes that Canadian projects face higher production costs than competitors in Qatar and the United States, making them reliant on substantial public subsidies. It recommends a shift in investment toward green industries to avoid economic shocks and environmental damage.
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Document type: Policy brief
Global Flood Map Methodology Documentation
The report outlines the technical process of combining Fathom's Global Flood Map (v3.1) with Public Safety Canada's residential building data and probabilistic vulnerability functions. It describes the use of 'big data' from US FEMA insurance claims to model damage distributions across 10 residential building types. The methodology accounts for flood defenses based on urbanization levels and applies the trapezium rule across eight return periods to estimate economic losses. Results show that Canada's defended AAL is projected to increase from 1,423 million CAD in 2020 to 1,681 million CAD by 2050, while undefended AAL is significantly higher, reaching 5,050 million CAD by 2050.
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Document type: Report
Climate Matters
Analysis of 241 U.S. locations from 1970 to 2023 shows that 95% have experienced warming average summer temperatures, with an average increase of 2.5°F. The Northwest, Southwest, and South regions saw the most significant heating. Additionally, 58% of analyzed locations now experience at least 14 more above-normal summer days than in 1970. The document also highlights the health risks of extreme heat, particularly for vulnerable populations and those affected by urban heat islands, and provides a directory of monitoring tools and hurricane season resources.
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Document type: Fact sheet
MERITS OBSERVATIONS TO THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS SEEKING RELIEF FROM VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDIGENOUS TRANSBOUNDARY COMMISSION RESULTING FROM HARD-ROCK MINING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
The Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC) is seeking relief from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights due to the impacts of hard-rock mining in British Columbia, Canada. The document argues that mining projects in the Taku, Stikine, and Unuk watersheds threaten the subsistence and cultural rights of Southeast Alaska Native communities through heavy metal pollution and habitat destruction. SEITC alleges that Canada and B.C. have failed to conduct comprehensive transboundary environmental assessments, have ignored the need for free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), and have used a flawed amendment process to expand mine operations without adequate scrutiny. The submission introduces a new claim regarding the violation of the right to a healthy environment and requests that the Commission investigate these claims and recommend the suspension of mine authorizations until transboundary harms are addressed.
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Document type: Report
Comments on the Milestone Document, Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy
CAPE argues that biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution form an interconnected crisis that directly harms human health. They recommend a 'planetary health' approach to Canada's 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy, emphasizing the protection of green and blue spaces, the reduction of hazardous chemical pollution, and the recognition of the human right to a healthy environment. The document highlights the mental health benefits of nature exposure and the risks of zoonotic diseases resulting from habitat destruction. CAPE specifically calls for the phase-out of hazardous pesticides, the end of fossil fuel subsidies, and the centering of Indigenous knowledge and self-determination in conservation efforts.
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Document type: Statement
How States Can Use Low-Carbon Fuel Standards to Incentivize Clean Hydrogen-Derived Fuels
The policy brief examines how Low-Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) can complement federal hydrogen investments by directing clean hydrogen toward high-priority sectors. It analyzes existing programs in California, Oregon, and Washington, providing four lessons for other states: regulating intrastate aviation fuel to move beyond biogenic feedstocks, phasing in maritime fuel regulation, managing biogenic feedstock demand to prevent indirect land use change, and implementing rigorous emissions accounting to avoid loopholes for blue and grey hydrogen.
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Document type: Policy brief