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Scott Vaughan's keynote address at the Ontario Climate Consortium’s Inaugural Climate Change Research Symposium discusses the urgent need for integrated climate adaptation strategies, the economic risks of non-linear temperature increases, and the necessity of policy coherence in government spending.

This 2013 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass in Manitoba for use as a bioenergy feedstock and a nutrient-management tool. Through trials at Pelly’s Lake and along Highway 1, the study demonstrated that existing agricultural windrowers and balers can effectively harvest cattails, though efficiency is highly dependent on soil moisture and weather. The project successfully recovered phosphorus from the biomass, highlighting the potential for improving water quality in the Lake Winnipeg basin. Key challenges included equipment plugging and the risk of machinery becoming stuck in soft wetland soils. The report concludes that while commercially viable, costs vary by site, and future success depends on optimizing harvest timing and potentially managing wetland water levels.

This 2013 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) applies the Adaptive Design and Assessment Policy Tool (ADAPTool) to evaluate the climate change adaptability of forestry policies and the design of a new wetlands policy in Manitoba. The analysis assesses both 'planned adaptability' (response to anticipated stressors) and 'autonomous adaptability' (capacity to respond to unanticipated events) across several provincial policy instruments.

This report examines the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within technical-vocational education and training (TVET) in Manitoba, Canada. It identifies promising practices, such as the development of a new alternative energy program and the inclusion of sustainability outcomes in curricula, while highlighting significant barriers including lack of funding for green equipment, insufficient teacher training, and a gap in provincial-level policy guidance. The report suggests strengthening partnerships with industry to identify green skill demands and expanding professional development for educators to better prepare students for a green economy.

This report analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks in Canada as they relate to Indigenous Peoples' Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs). It examines the tension between Canadian state law—characterized by a history of colonialism and assimilation—and the inherent rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to govern their traditional lands and resources.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the impact of British Columbia's carbon tax and provides recommendations for its future. The document argues that the tax has successfully reduced emissions without hindering economic growth and suggests maintaining the current policy structure while addressing emerging challenges such as natural gas expansion and price misalignment with the United States.

This report synthesizes the proceedings of a follow-up meeting held on December 1, 2011, to review progress since the 2010 Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit. The meeting focused on the 'Lake Winnipeg Bioeconomy Project,' an initiative by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to transform nutrient loading issues—specifically phosphorus pollution—into economic opportunities through clean technology and sustainable development.

This briefing note summarizes a sharing circle workshop held on February 17, 2011, in Bloodvein First Nation, Manitoba. Facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the session explored the relationship between the local environment and the well-being of First Nations peoples, documented observed environmental changes, and identified potential adaptation strategies for future climate variability.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) describes an assessment framework designed to help governments and First Nations communities understand the relationship between the boreal environment and community well-being. Developed through collaboration with the Bloodvein and Poplar River First Nations in Manitoba, the framework simplifies international ecosystem assessment models to identify how environmental products, services, and cultural benefits support health, security, livelihoods, and social relations in remote Canadian settings.

This research paper reviews international and Canadian programming and research on ecological goods and services (EGS) to guide the development of EGS policy and management in Manitoba, specifically to support a comprehensive water resources plan for Lake Winnipeg.

This case study report examines agricultural participation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) across four Canadian watersheds: the Okanagan Basin (BC), Lower Souris River (SK), Yamaska (QC), and Souris River (PEI). It analyzes the drivers and barriers to producer engagement, the institutional structures governing water management, and the resources provided by federal and provincial governments. The report concludes that while financial incentives are a primary driver for adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs), there is a critical need for better integration between high-level IWRM planning and on-the-ground agri-environmental implementation, supported by localized technical extension and consistent monitoring data.

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit (November 30 - December 1, 2010) convened 150 stakeholders to develop a vision for reducing nutrient loading in Lake Winnipeg while supporting Manitoba's economy. The summit emphasized a sustainable development strategy and suggested that Manitoba lead the effort as the downstream jurisdiction. The document also references a summary on large basin management and ecosystem services in the Nelson-Churchill River Basin.

This case study documents the lived experience of Lonny and Greta, a couple living in poverty in Manitoba, Canada. It details their struggles with social assistance, inadequate housing, the impact of a bedbug infestation, and the emotional stress of financial instability and social stigma.

This case study documents the lived experience of Rhoda Mamakeesic, a retired healthcare worker in Manitoba, detailing her journey through residential school, periods of poverty, and her current stability through social housing and pensions.

This case study details the lived experience of Valerie Wolbert, President of the Manitoba Chapter of People First, focusing on the intersection of intellectual disability, poverty, and systemic barriers in Canada.

This report details the first phase of the 'Building Capacity for Ecological Infrastructure Investments in the Red River Basin' initiative, a partnership between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Red River Basin Commission (RRBC). The project aims to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to help municipalities and counties in the Red River Basin (RRB) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ecological infrastructure investments—such as restoring natural environments—compared to traditional 'hard' infrastructure for flood control and water quality management.

This report evaluates Integrated Place-based Management (IPM) initiatives, focusing on how goals are defined and how monitoring and evaluation frameworks measure long-term environmental and governance impacts. It analyzes Canadian and international case studies to identify trends in the transition from short-term project reporting to long-term, adaptive monitoring that combines outcome-based environmental indicators with process-based governance indicators.

This report evaluates the feasibility of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from university data centres in Canada by analyzing three relocation or modification scenarios and proposing a 'green community cloud' alternative. The study focuses on three institutions: Dalhousie University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Alberta.

This report, an excerpt from a paper presented at the Banff Dialogue in April 2010, argues for the creation of a coherent national energy strategy for Canada to better manage its diverse energy resources and navigate its heavy trade dependence on the United States while transitioning toward low-carbon energy.

This research paper, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for the 2010 World Resources Report, argues that existing government practices can be harnessed to manage the risks and uncertainties of climate change. The authors propose a framework of seven adaptive policy-making practices divided into 'planned adaptability' and 'autonomous adaptability' to help policy-makers navigate complex, unpredictable socio-economic and ecological systems.