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This research paper examines the methods for emissions accounting, target setting, and disclosure within Canada's agricultural portfolios, highlighting the role of financial institutions in supporting the transition to net-zero emissions.

This report provides guidance on transitioning the construction industry from prescriptive concrete specifications—which dictate a specific 'recipe'—to Performance Standards and Specifications (PSS) that focus on desired properties. The author argues that PSS is essential for scaling low-carbon concrete and reducing sector emissions by 25% or more, as traditional standards are geared toward ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The document outlines stakeholder roles, suggests specific tests for workability, strength, and durability, and provides case studies from the US and international examples to demonstrate how PSS can be trialed on real-world projects.

This report by Ember explores the potential for an electricity interconnector between Europe and North America to enhance grid security and efficiency as both regions decarbonise. The analysis suggests that differences in time zones and weather patterns—specifically uncorrelated wind, temperature, and rainfall—could provide significant arbitrage opportunities and system resilience, potentially offering a more cost-effective solution than nuclear power or hydrogen.

This policy brief examines the potential for the South African G20 presidency to facilitate the rechannelling of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), specifically the African Development Bank (AfDB). It outlines the financial mechanisms for such a transfer, the political and legal hurdles preventing it, and the potential development impacts for African nations.

This toolkit by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines policy options to address carbon leakage—the displacement of production and emissions to countries with lower climate ambition. It analyzes the trade-offs of international frameworks, Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), carbon cost containment, subsidies, and product standards, noting that while carbon pricing coverage grew to 24% of emissions in 2024, price divergence continues to drive leakage risks.

A joint statement by five environmental and health organizations providing recommendations to the Government of Canada to strengthen the draft Implementation Framework for the Right to a Healthy Environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

A joint statement from five environmental and health organizations providing recommendations on the Proposed Plan of Priorities under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, urging for greater ambition in substance assessment and better integration with environmental justice frameworks.

A joint statement by five environmental and health organizations—Ecojustice, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Breast Cancer Action Quebec, and Environmental Defence—providing recommendations on the Proposed Watch List Approach for implementing section 75.1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The organizations argue for a streamlined, hazard-based process to prevent regrettable substitutions and avoid industry-driven delays.

The report details the 58th meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council, held via videoconference on November 6, 2024. The meeting focused on the relocation of the IAI headquarters to Panama, updates on scientific initiatives including tropical forest and ocean research, the development of a Science Diplomacy Center, and the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Committee.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the economic, health, and security benefits of transitioning Canada to a net-zero electricity grid by 2050. It argues that electrification across all sectors will require doubling or tripling electricity generation, which can be achieved through renewables to lower household costs, improve public health, and enhance energy independence.

The 58th IAI Executive Council meeting report details the successful relocation of the IAI headquarters to Panama, a 20% increase in voluntary contributions for FY 2024-2025, and the launch of a Collaborative Research Action on Tropical Forests. Key future initiatives include a June 2025 CRA on Oceans, the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee, and the rollout of a scientific diplomacy curriculum in early 2025. The report also confirms that the 33rd Conference of the Parties (CoP-33) will be held in Paraguay in May 2025.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines carbon leakage—the displacement of production and emissions to countries with lower climate ambition—and evaluates a toolkit of policy responses including Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), cost-containment measures, subsidies, and product standards.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) provided testimony to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources on November 21, 2024, arguing that the oil and gas industry is a primary driver of Canada's greatest public health challenge. CAPE advocates for a moratorium on oil and gas development, asserting that industry-led technological solutions are insufficient and that a rapid transition to clean energy is necessary to protect human health and uphold Indigenous rights.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that progress toward net zero is overestimated due to inconsistencies in how land-based carbon accounting is handled in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) compared to IPCC methods. It highlights that current NDCs rely on unrealistic land-based removal targets that ignore ecological limits, social risks, and the declining ability of natural sinks to store carbon under rising temperatures.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment argues that plastics contain cancer-causing chemicals, such as flame retardants and phthalates, contributing to a breast cancer epidemic. The document highlights disproportionate health impacts on Black, Indigenous, and racialized people in Canada and calls for the Canadian government to implement stronger regulations and support a rigorous Global Plastics Treaty to remove toxic chemicals from products.

This policy brief by the NewClimate Institute examines the inclusion of non-CO2 emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases) in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), highlighting a general lack of gas-specific quantitative targets and focusing on the potential for China to increase its ambition in the next NDC cycle.

This briefing examines the implementation of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs), focusing on the European Union's pioneering system and its global repercussions. It analyzes the limited impact of CBAMs on overall emissions reductions compared to domestic carbon pricing, the significant economic risks posed to developing nations, and the resulting fragmented landscape of international trade and climate policy.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) warns of a health crisis driven by rising plastic production and its associated greenhouse gas emissions, calling for the Government of Canada to commit to production limits and the elimination of hazardous chemicals within a Global Plastics Treaty.

The IISD welcomes the Government of Canada's draft regulations for an oil and gas pollution cap to drive the sector toward net-zero by 2050, but warns that a proposed 'decarbonization program' creates a loophole for double-counting emissions reductions. The IISD advocates for the exclusion of international offsets and the implementation of a robust, loophole-free cap by early 2025.

This briefing examines the landscape of global responsible mining standards, highlighting their role in mitigating environmental and social risks during the energy transition. It details the categorization of standards, the move toward harmonization via the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI), and provides recommendations for governments to integrate these voluntary frameworks into national regulations to enhance transparency and accountability.