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6 Investissements dans les infrastructures résilientes et sobres en carbone
The report analyzes Canadian infrastructure investment flows and stocks from 2009 to 2019, noting significant growth in hydroelectric power and pollution abatement but a sharp decline in wind and solar investments. It highlights a total infrastructure value of 250 billion dollars in 2019, dominated by electricity assets. The author argues that current data is incomplete, lacking coverage of energy efficiency, natural infrastructure, and building renovations, and proposes a new classification system to better align investments with long-term climate goals and avoid 'path dependency' where current projects fail to meet future resilience needs.
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Document type: Report
1 Low Carbon Growth
The report analyzes the gap between Canada's GDP and GHG emissions, noting that while national decoupling has occurred, significant regional disparities exist. It highlights that Canada's economy remains more carbon-intensive than other developed nations and suggests three primary pathways for achieving low-carbon growth: reducing emissions intensity, reallocating resources, and accelerating the growth of low-carbon firms.
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Document type: Report
Use of Pesticides Indoors: Differences in Risk, Regulation, and Necessary Precautions
The document highlights that pesticides persist longer indoors due to a lack of sunlight and microbial action, yet Canadian regulatory assessments for indoor use do not require the same persistence or environmental fate studies as outdoor uses. It notes that pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the most common indoor pesticides and are linked to neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption. The briefing emphasizes that low-income individuals face higher exposure due to poorly maintained housing and that current regulatory models fail to account for these socio-economic factors. It concludes that reliance on pesticide labels is insufficient due to poor communication of updates and high rates of non-compliance among professional pest control operators.
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Document type: Briefing
Good Morals, Good Marketing: The business case for taking climate action
The Falcon Trails resort in Manitoba transitioned from basic environmental protection to a strategic business model centered on sustainability. By rebranding off-grid accommodations as "eco cabins" and utilizing Manitoba Hydro rebates for solar panels and energy efficiency, the resort leveraged its environmental efforts for competitive marketing. The business also implemented an Environmentalist-in-Residence program to further reduce its footprint through textile repurposing and mending.
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Document type: Case study
Tracer notre voie
The report outlines the physical and economic risks Canada faces due to climate change, such as sea-level rise and the global shift away from carbon-intensive exports. It proposes a holistic approach to climate policy that integrates health, well-being, and economic competitiveness, moving beyond narrow emission targets. The document highlights existing Canadian subnational innovations in carbon pricing and coal phase-out while recommending that governments expand the scope and ambition of their climate actions to ensure long-term prosperity.
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Document type: Report
Charting Our Course
The report outlines the dual threats of physical climate impacts and global economic transitions facing Canada. It proposes a comprehensive framework that integrates health, wellness, and economic prosperity, moving beyond siloed mitigation and adaptation strategies. The document highlights existing sub-national policy successes and recommends that Canadian governments broaden their climate objectives, increase policy ambition, and leverage international leadership to ensure a resilient future.
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Document type: Report
RECOVERY PLAN HEALTHY
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) argues that Canada's post-COVID-19 economic recovery should prioritize decarbonization to protect human health and ensure economic stability. The report outlines a path to net-zero emissions by 2050, projecting that meeting climate targets would save approximately 112,000 lives between 2030 and 2050 due to air quality improvements and increase clean jobs from 210,000 in 2020 to 1.5 million by 2050. Key recommendations include legislating a net-zero 2050 target, decarbonizing electricity and transit by 2040, and transitioning buildings and healthcare to net-zero by 2050. The report also emphasizes the health risks of fossil fuel investments, the need for a just transition for workers, and the importance of nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and mental health.
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Document type: Report
An Online Environmental Scan of Right-wing Extremism in Canada
The report identifies a significant online presence of right-wing extremism in Canada, involving 6,660 accounts and channels across seven platforms with a collective reach of over 11 million users. While ethnonationalists are the most prevalent group on mainstream platforms like Facebook and Twitter, explicit white supremacist activity is concentrated on fringe sites such as Iron March and Fascist Forge. The study finds that RWE activity spikes around key events, specifically the Christchurch attack and the 2019 Canadian federal election, with anti-Muslim and anti-Trudeau rhetoric serving as primary drivers of conversation. Offline findings indicate a growth in RWE activity in the Maritime provinces and an increasing fascination with paramilitary training and weaponry among groups like the Three Percenters.
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Document type: Report
Call to Action on Climate Change and Health
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment calls for urgent federal action to treat climate change as a public health emergency, advocating for a target-based plan to limit warming to 1.5°C to protect Canadian health and reduce healthcare costs.
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Document type: Statement
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR DEMONSTRATING SECURE GEOLOGICAL STORAGE
The document outlines guiding principles for the IRS to establish substantive criteria and implementation processes for verifying the secure geological storage of CO2 used in EOR. It recommends a flexible framework allowing for two primary pathways: EPA's Subpart RR and the ISO 27916 Standard. Because ISO 27916 lacks a built-in implementation mechanism, the authors propose a transparent third-party validation and verification process conducted by qualified professionals, potentially accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
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Document type: Statement
LOW-CARBON METALS FOR A LOW-CARBON WORLD
The production of industrial metals accounts for over 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure likely to rise as declining ore grades increase the energy required for extraction. Using copper as a flagship example, the report demonstrates that mining operations can achieve 45% renewable electricity while improving financial performance and resilience. RMI's modeling across 25 sites in five countries shows that a 'one-size-fits-most' approach—combining large-scale solar with other renewable technologies or utility buyback programs—can maintain internal rates of return (IRR) while increasing net present value (NPV). The report identifies market, structural, organizational, and behavioral barriers to adoption and suggests financing mechanisms like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to mitigate high upfront capital costs. To reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the report advocates for further electrification, energy productivity reforms, and new metallurgical processes.
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Document type: Report
Floating Treatment Wetlands and Plant Bioremediation: Nutrient treatment in eutrophic freshwater lakes
The report evaluates floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) as a nature-based solution for eutrophication in shallow lakes. Through primary research at the IISD-Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) and a case study of Pelican Lake, Manitoba, the study demonstrates that FTWs—particularly those using cattails—effectively sequester phosphorus and nitrogen. While plant biomass contributes to nutrient removal, the report emphasizes that the microbial biofilm on roots provides up to 80% of the total treatment. For Pelican Lake, the study estimates that 5% surface coverage could reduce total phosphorus levels by 10% to 50%, though FTWs must be combined with watershed-level strategies to meet provincial water quality standards.
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Document type: Case study
The (Public) Cost of Pollution: Ontario's fossil fuel subsidies
Ontario provides nearly CAD 700 million annually in public subsidies for fossil fuel consumption, with the largest portions consisting of tax exemptions for aviation, rail, and agricultural fuels, as well as direct spending on natural gas expansion. The report argues these subsidies represent foregone revenue and encourage pollution, recommending a transparent self-review, a phase-out action plan, and strict guidelines for any new subsidies to facilitate a transition to a clean economy.
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Document type: Report
The (Public) Cost of Pollution: Ontario’s fossil fuel subsidies
In 2018/19, Ontario provided nearly CAD 700 million in public subsidies for fossil fuel consumption, primarily through tax exemptions for aviation, rail, and agriculture, and spending on natural gas expansion. The report argues that these subsidies represent foregone revenue that could be redirected toward education, healthcare, and job training, while hindering the transition to a clean economy. It recommends that Ontario undertake a transparent self-review of all fossil fuel subsidies, develop a phase-out action plan, and establish guidelines to prevent new subsidies that are inconsistent with a low-carbon economy.
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Document type: Executive summary
The (Public) Cost of Pollution: Ontario’s fossil fuel subsidies
The report identifies that Ontario provided nearly CAD 700 million in public subsidies for fossil fuel consumption in 2018/19. These primarily consist of tax exemptions for aviation, railway, and agricultural fuels, as well as direct spending on natural gas infrastructure. The authors argue that these subsidies distort the market and hinder climate goals, recommending a transparent provincial self-review to identify more sustainable alternatives for energy affordability and industry competitiveness.
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Document type: Report
WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKET DESIGN FOR RAPID DECARBONIZATION: A DECENTRALIZED MARKETS APPROACH
The authors propose a market design featuring a regional spot market operated by an independent Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) using locational marginal pricing and security-constrained economic dispatch. To ensure long-term investment in clean resources and manage price risk, the model relies on decentralized bilateral contracts, such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), rather than centralized capacity procurement. The authors contend that this approach facilitates the retirement of fossil fuel generation, promotes innovation in distributed energy resources, and minimizes political interference. They emphasize that public policy instruments, such as carbon pricing or portfolio standards, should complement this market structure by internalizing greenhouse gas externalities to accelerate the transition.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals
The report details Canada's greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2016, highlighting that while overall emissions grew nearly 17%, the oil and gas and transportation sectors were the primary drivers. It examines the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and provides a detailed breakdown of emissions by province and territory, noting significant per capita disparities between jurisdictions like Alberta and Quebec.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals
The document outlines the climate-related risks facing health care facilities (HCFs) and provides a framework for mitigation and adaptation. It highlights that 90% of health care life-cycle GHG emissions in Canada are generated upstream in the supply chain, with pharmaceuticals and hospitals being major contributors. The guide recommends using resiliency checklists, vulnerability assessments, and sustainable procurement to reduce environmental footprints. It also discusses specific interventions in energy efficiency, transportation (including telemedicine), and the reduction of potent inhalation anesthetic gases.
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Document type: Guide
Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals
The Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals, published by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), is a comprehensive guide designed to empower healthcare workers to act as educators and advocates. It details the science of anthropogenic climate change, the disproportionate health risks faced by vulnerable populations, and the specific regional vulnerabilities across Canada. The document emphasizes 'health co-benefits'—the immediate health improvements resulting from climate mitigation, such as reduced air pollution from phasing out coal and improved cardiovascular health through active transportation. It provides a framework for health care facilities to assess their own climate resiliency and reduce their carbon footprints, while offering strategies for health professionals to engage patients, peers, and policymakers in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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Document type: Guide
Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals
The document details how climate change affects Canadian health through extreme heat, air pollution, UV radiation, and the spread of vector-borne and water-borne diseases. It emphasizes that marginalized populations, including Indigenous peoples and low-income individuals, face disproportionate risks. Regional analyses highlight specific threats such as melting permafrost in the North, hurricanes in Atlantic Canada, and increased drought in the Prairies.
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Document type: Guide