Search Climate Insights Directory
393 results
TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper
The document serves as a guide for public and stakeholder consultations to update Manitoba's climate strategy. It reviews the province's failure to meet its 2012 GHG reduction targets, analyzes sectoral emission drivers—notably the high relative contribution of agriculture—and proposes principles for a new plan that integrates mitigation with a stronger focus on adaptation. It also highlights opportunities for a green economy based on Manitoba's clean energy resources and bioproducts potential.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper
The document outlines Manitoba's current emissions profile, its history of climate action, and the need for a new integrated plan for mitigation and adaptation. It examines policies from other jurisdictions regarding larger emitters and proposes principles for Manitoba's future strategy, including the development of mandatory GHG reporting regulations.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT, DECISION-SUPPORT & TOOL KIT
The briefing outlines the 'From Farms to Regions' project, which used a participatory framework and the Envision geospatial modelling platform to develop climate adaptation strategies for southeastern Ontario. By engaging stakeholders and analysts, the project identified key drivers of change—climate change, markets, and governance—and created five future scenarios (Business-as-Usual, Targeting foreign markets, Promoting the bioeconomy, Moving towards greener agriculture, and Living locally). These scenarios were used to quantify impacts on land use and environmental indicators, leading to the identification of over 50 adaptation actions clustered into farm-level changes, new insurance mechanisms, ecosystem service support, information tools, and public education. The document concludes with a framework for monitoring the integration of these adaptation measures into cross-sectoral policy and planning.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper
The document outlines the context for Manitoba's transition to a new climate change and green economy plan, highlighting the province's emissions profile and the critical role of peatlands. It identifies transportation and agriculture as the largest emission sources and discusses the potential for peatlands to either sequester carbon or release GHGs depending on management. The paper also reviews climate policies in other jurisdictions and proposes principles for the new provincial strategy, emphasizing the integration of adaptation and mitigation.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
A Climate Gift or a Lump of Coal?
The policy brief analyzes the effectiveness of coal-fired electricity regulations in Canada and the United States. It finds that the U.S. approach, which targets the broader electricity sector and existing plants, will deliver significantly higher national emission reductions by 2020 and 2030 than the Canadian approach, which focuses on new plants and those reaching the end of their useful life. Despite these policies, neither country is projected to meet its Copenhagen Accord target of a 17% reduction in emissions by 2020 relative to 2005 levels.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief
TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper
The document outlines the current state of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba, identifying the transportation sector as the largest source at 38% of total emissions in 2012. It highlights the vulnerability of provincial infrastructure to extreme weather, such as the CAD$1.2 billion cost of the 2011 flood and the instability of winter roads. The paper reviews climate policies from other jurisdictions—including electric vehicle programs in Vancouver and green trucking in Quebec—to provide a basis for developing a new integrated plan that balances mitigation and adaptation while fostering a green economy.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
PETITION TO THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION TO ISSUE AN EMERGENCY ORDER PROHIBITING THE SHIPMENT OF BAKKEN CRUDE OIL IN UNSAFE TANK CARS
Earthjustice, on behalf of Sierra Club and ForestEthics, petitions the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to ban legacy DOT-111 tank cars for transporting highly flammable crude oil. The petition argues that these cars pose an "unacceptable public risk" due to high failure rates in derailments, citing disasters in Lac Mégantic, Aliceville, and Casselton. While the DOT has initiated rulemaking and issued operational emergency orders, the petitioners contend these actions are insufficient and too slow to address the imminent hazard. They highlight that Canada has already implemented bans and surcharges on these cars, which may inadvertently push the most dangerous tank cars into the U.S. fleet. The document advocates for an immediate emergency order to bridge the gap until a formal rulemaking process establishes more robust safety standards, such as the CPC-1232 specifications or newer designs.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Statement
TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper
The document outlines the current state of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba, highlighting that the transportation and agriculture sectors are the largest contributors. It reviews previous efforts, such as the Beyond Kyoto plan, and examines climate policies in other jurisdictions like Quebec, British Columbia, and Sweden to inform a new provincial strategy. The paper emphasizes the need to integrate adaptation and mitigation, particularly for the vulnerable agriculture and water sectors, and proposes a set of guiding principles for the new plan. It concludes with a questionnaire designed to gather stakeholder input on barriers, opportunities, and capacity-building needs for reducing emissions and enhancing resilience in Manitoba.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
TomorrowNow— Manitoba’s Green Plan: Toward a New Provincial Climate Change and Green Economy Plan Consultations Background Paper
The document outlines Manitoba's current emissions profile, the shortcomings of its previous 'Beyond Kyoto' plan, and the goals for a new integrated approach to climate mitigation and adaptation. It emphasizes the role of the energy and building sectors in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience to extreme weather. The paper also reviews climate policies in other Canadian jurisdictions and proposes guiding principles for the new provincial strategy, including the development of mandatory GHG reporting for large emitters.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
Carbon-Free Prosperity in California: Policies for Success
The briefing outlines a strategic policy framework for California to maintain its climate leadership and reach its 2050 emissions targets. It emphasizes the need for a 2030 carbon cap to provide investment certainty and recommends specific reforms: transitioning utilities to performance-based regulation, implementing energy labels for existing buildings, enhancing the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and establishing 'gold standard' methane emissions regulations. The authors also advocate for regional cooperation with other U.S. states and technical collaboration with China to scale clean energy technologies globally.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
Regulating Carbon Emissions in Canada
The document reports a significant decline in federal political will to regulate carbon emissions in Canada during 2013, specifically noting the delay of oil and gas regulations. In contrast, provinces took leading roles: Ontario phased out coal-fired electricity, Quebec launched a cap-and-trade system linked to California, and British Columbia maintained its carbon tax. The brief highlights the 'Keystone effect,' where U.S. market access for the Keystone XL pipeline became linked to Canada's GHG performance. It concludes that federal 'equivalency' agreements—intended to align provincial and federal standards—have stalled due to complexity and lack of political will, recommending that Canada embrace a bottom-up approach to subnational policy alignment.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief
Remarks to the Canadian-American Business Council
The document discusses the shift toward regulatory-based climate policies in both Canada and the U.S., emphasizing the need for 'equivalency' in measuring carbon reductions across different provincial and state systems. It analyzes the economic impact of proposed Canadian oil and gas regulations, noting that a 40/40 target (40% reduction with a $40 price ceiling) would cost significantly more than a 20/20 target. Finally, it suggests Canada is unlikely to meet its 17% emissions reduction target for 2020 due to delayed oil and gas regulations and increasing energy sector emissions.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Statement
Policy Options to Address Competitiveness Concerns: Lessons from the EU ETS and Other Trading Systems
The document examines how carbon pricing can lead to 'carbon leakage' and competitive disadvantages for domestic industries. It categorizes policy responses into domestic measures (subsidies, cost containment, and flexibility) and international measures (border adjustments and policy extension). Using the EU ETS as a primary case study, it highlights the risks of free allowance allocation, such as windfall profits and political rent-seeking, while noting that empirical evidence often suggests competitiveness concerns are overstated. It concludes that while border adjustments are theoretically effective, they pose significant risks of trade disputes and diplomatic tensions.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief
RETHINKING THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL CARBON MARKETS IN THE EU’S 2030 CLIMATE FRAMEWORK
Carbon Market Watch argues that international carbon offsets have failed to deliver promised climate benefits and have undermined the EU's domestic abatement efforts. The brief recommends a legally binding EU domestic GHG reduction target of at least 55% below 1990 levels for 2030, the total elimination of international offsets for meeting mitigation obligations post-2020, and the implementation of safeguards when linking the EU ETS to other trading schemes. It further suggests that climate finance should shift away from carbon markets toward regulation, standards, and incentive programs, such as performance-based financing for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs).
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief
Climate Change Adaptation and Canadian Infrastructure
The report examines how climate hazards—such as permafrost degradation, sea-level rise, and extreme weather—threaten Canadian infrastructure, including transportation, buildings, and water systems. It finds that while significant economic costs are already being incurred and research is extensive, policy and regulatory responses remain nascent and investment decisions are not yet substantially driven by adaptation needs. The document details regional vulnerabilities and explores enabling factors such as updated building codes, insurance incentives, and industry-led sustainability initiatives to strengthen long-term resilience.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: INTERNATIONAL OFFSETS IN EU’S 2020 CLIMATE LEGISLATION
The document examines how international carbon offsets under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) have contributed to an oversupply of allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) and the Effort Sharing Decision (ESD). It highlights critical failures in 'additionality', noting that many projects would have occurred without offset funding, and points to a lack of sustainability and human rights protections. The author recommends a ban on industrial gas projects, large-scale power projects, and JI track 1 projects for the 2013-2020 period.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief
Policy Tools That Support Transition Into a Green Economy
This briefing describes how fiscal policy instruments—such as taxes, subsidies, and market mechanisms—can incentivize sustainable actions and discourage unsustainable practices. It highlights Germany's revenue-neutral motor vehicle tax based on CO2 emissions and discusses the applicability of similar province-specific fiscal mechanisms within the Canadian context, specifically for Manitoba.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
Carbon Market Watch Recommendations for SBI-38, SBSTA-38 and ADP 2-2
Carbon Market Watch argues that existing carbon markets have collapsed due to oversupply and poor quality, specifically citing the CDM and JI. The briefing recommends strengthening additionality criteria, shortening crediting periods, and establishing mandatory human rights and sustainability safeguards. For new mechanisms like the FVA and NMM, it advocates for a binding international governance structure and a common transaction tracking mechanism to prevent double counting of emission reductions.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
The cost of carbon pricing: competitiveness implications for the mining and metals industry
The report examines how carbon pricing mechanisms—such as carbon taxes and emissions trading systems—affect the competitiveness of the mining and metals sector. It focuses on aluminium, copper, iron ore, and coal across the EU, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and the US. The analysis highlights that electricity-intensive processes, like aluminium smelting, are most vulnerable to indirect costs passed through from power grids. The report advocates for a principles-based approach to policy design to prevent carbon leakage and maintain international competitiveness, recommending a transition toward a harmonized global emissions system.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Ontario Moving in the Right Direction on Climate Policy: IISD input on climate policy design to the Ministry of the Environment
The document argues that Ontario should implement a unified carbon-pricing scheme, specifically a cap-and-trade system, to preempt federal sector-by-sector regulations and ensure cost-effective mitigation. Using economic modelling, the authors suggest that full compliance flexibility—including offsets and potential linking with the Western Climate Initiative (WCI)—could reduce compliance costs to below $15 per tonne by 2020. The brief cautions against overcompensating firms through free permit allocations, particularly in the electricity sector, to avoid windfall profits, and suggests a 25,000 tonne coverage threshold to align with California and Quebec systems.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief