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The report analyzes the design and operational experiences of various emissions trading systems, including the EU ETS, RGGI, WCI, NZ ETS, TMG ETS, and the Australian CPM. It highlights key design trade-offs regarding coverage, allowance distribution, and price management, while emphasizing that the EU ETS experience demonstrates that over-allocation does not necessarily preclude abatement. The document also provides a toolkit for policymakers to assess the environmental and economic effectiveness of such systems.

The document analyzes Canada's 2012 carbon policy transition, marked by the official withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol and the implementation of federal sector-based regulations for transport and coal-fired electricity. It highlights a growing trend toward 'equivalency agreements' where the federal government defers to provincial policies, potentially leading to a fragmented national landscape. The report also notes provincial initiatives, such as Quebec's cap-and-trade linkage with California and Ontario's coal phase-out, while recommending greater compliance flexibility and a clearer federal policy vision to reduce costs and meet 2020 targets.

The report analyzes a diverse array of cap-and-trade systems, from the established EU ETS to emerging pilots in China and South Korea. It argues that the success of these markets depends heavily on long-term political commitment, robust data collection, and centralized decision-making to avoid over-allocation. The authors highlight a shift in the center of carbon market activity toward Asia-Pacific economies, which are experimenting with novel scopes including buildings and indirect emissions.

The document outlines the two primary forms of carbon pricing: emissions trading schemes (ETS) and carbon taxes. It details the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme as the world's largest, alongside regional programs like the RGGI in the US and the Tokyo Cap and Trade Program. It also lists numerous national carbon taxes, noting Finland as the first to introduce one in 1990, and describes hybrid systems in Australia and New Zealand.

The report analyzes the potential for scaling up cattail harvesting in Manitoba, identifying it as a viable biomass source for bioenergy and a tool for reducing nutrient loading in Lake Winnipeg. It finds a current lack of explicit legislation for cattail harvesting and proposes two management scenarios: one emphasizing private benefits (modeled on wild rice harvesting) and another emphasizing public benefits (funded through contracts and incentives). The analysis also explores carbon offset opportunities, suggesting that while national and provincial markets are fragmented, the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Alberta's protocols offer viable models for generating credits from methane avoidance and fossil fuel displacement.

The report examines the legal and political landscape of Canada regarding Indigenous peoples' rights to land and conservation. It argues that the Canadian state generally does not recognize ICCAs, instead maintaining a colonial framework that prioritizes Crown sovereignty and resource extraction over Indigenous self-determination. While comprehensive agreements for Inuit and some First Nations provide a level of co-management, most Indigenous peoples face systemic barriers, including the Indian Act and a lack of political will to respect inherent rights. The document highlights the 'duty to consult' as a critical legal tool and provides case studies on Torngat Mountains National Park, Gwaii Haanas, and Ipperwash Provincial Park to illustrate the spectrum from co-governance to violent conflict.

The document evaluates the British Columbia carbon tax as an effective model for low-carbon development that has reduced emissions without hindering economic growth. It compares BC's approach with other Canadian provincial and federal strategies, highlighting a closing gap in carbon pricing across the country. The briefing identifies key risks to future success, including the expansion of the natural gas sector and the lack of carbon pricing in the United States. IISD recommends retaining the tax and considering integrated mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The report argues that the EU ETS is failing due to a massive oversupply of allowances caused by the 2008 economic recession and industrial overallocation. Sandbag identifies a total excess of 3.1 billion tonnes (Gt) of allowances, including 2.2Gt from obsolete demand forecasts and 0.9Gt from industrial overallocation. The document highlights that 78% of the net surplus is concentrated among ten steel and cement companies, which have generated significant revenues from selling surplus permits. To remedy this, the report recommends the permanent cancellation of 3.1Gt of allowances from Phase 3 auctions, the establishment of a more ambitious Phase 4 carbon budget aligned with 2050 goals, and the introduction of mechanisms like a "heat exchanger" and a strategic demand-correction reserve to protect the system from future exogenous shocks.

The brief uses the Canadian Integrated Modelling System (CIMS) to evaluate proposed regulations requiring new or modified coal plants to meet a performance standard of 375 g CO2e/kWh. The analysis projects that these regulations would reduce electricity sector emissions by 5 million tonnes (Mt) in 2020 and 20 Mt by 2030, with an average cost of $26 per tonne of GHG reduced. The findings indicate that coal generation would be primarily displaced by natural gas turbines, which are expected to account for 77-78% of the replacement, while carbon capture and storage (CCS) and renewables would play smaller roles.

The document details a project to harvest cattails in Manitoba to reduce phosphorus loading in Lake Winnipeg and replace coal with biomass for heating. It explores various bioenergy pathways, including solid fuel, biocarbon, and advanced biofuels, while analyzing the potential for carbon offsets through the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and provincial regimes.

The report finds modest progress in reorienting Canadian teacher education toward sustainability, noting that while pedagogical approaches consistent with ESD are increasingly used, institutional adoption remains fragmented and often driven by individual faculty champions rather than faculty-wide mandates. Key barriers include funding challenges, communication gaps, and the constraint of provincial teacher certification requirements, which are largely determined by ministries of education rather than the faculties themselves.

The document examines how unilateral carbon pricing creates production cost variations that may lead to 'carbon leakage'—the relocation of production to regions with less stringent environmental standards. It analyzes policy mechanisms to mitigate these risks, such as free allowances and Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), while highlighting the industry's strategic role in providing essential materials for low-carbon infrastructure. The brief argues that because the mining and metals sector is emissions-intensive and trade-exposed, policy design must account for specific commodity characteristics and long investment cycles to avoid jeopardizing economic viability and environmental integrity.

The report analyzes EGS programs in the UK, Australia, France, Switzerland, the US, and Canada, emphasizing the shift from regulatory approaches to economic incentives. It highlights the importance of multifunctionality, geographic targeting, and public accountability. For Manitoba, it recommends a consolidated, watershed-based approach incorporating performance measurement and adaptive management.

The report examines IWRM initiatives in the Okanagan Basin (BC), Lower Souris River Watershed (SK), Yamaska Watershed (QC), and Souris River Watershed (PEI). It finds that while federal financial support for beneficial management practices (BMPs) is critical, there is a systemic disconnect between high-level watershed planning and on-farm implementation. Key drivers for farmer participation include financial incentives, a local 'sense of place,' and the availability of on-farm extension support. Barriers include complex bureaucracy, fear of regulation, and declining federal technical services. The report recommends a 'nested' approach to watershed management and a shift toward providing core operational funding for local watershed organizations to professionalize IWRM capacity.

The report examines the division of water management responsibilities between Canada's federal and provincial governments, highlighting significant gaps in monitoring, pollution control, and drinking water safety. It argues that the federal government should leverage its 'peace, order and good government' (POGG) power to provide national leadership, particularly in the face of climate change and the need for consistent water quality standards.

The study examines three scenarios for greening data centres at Dalhousie University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Alberta. It finds that relocating to remote renewable sites (Scenario 1) or urban low-emission grids (Scenario 2) is economically unviable due to high capital costs. Only on-site waste heat recovery (Scenario 3) showed a positive net present value for one institution. The report suggests a 'green community cloud' managed by CANARIE as a more viable alternative to individual university efforts.

The report analyzes how the Canadian agricultural sector can contribute to greenhouse gas reductions and the economic implications of emerging climate policies. It highlights the potential for carbon sequestration in soils and the role of bioenergy, while discussing the complexities of implementing a national cap-and-trade system. Key concerns include the integrity of agricultural offsets, the risk of carbon reversal, and the impact of international trade rules and U.S. policy alignment on Canadian competitiveness.

The document examines Canada's position as a major energy producer and the risks associated with its fragmented, province-led energy approach. It highlights the tension between Canada's traditional energy exports—particularly oil sands—and the global shift toward clean energy. The authors argue that a national strategy is essential to meet climate goals, protect trade interests (especially with the U.S.), and establish global leadership in technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS). It also assesses the current 'patchwork' of international energy governance, including the roles of the IEA, IRENA, and trade agreements like NAFTA.

The paper analyzes the technical and political requirements for linking cap-and-trade systems in North America, specifically focusing on the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It argues that while linking reduces overall carbon costs and GDP impacts, it may not significantly mitigate production leakage. The authors identify critical design elements requiring harmonization—such as cap type, offset limits, and enforcement quality—and conclude that divergent national interests make a fully integrated system unlikely, with a minimal U.S.-Canada link and a more significant U.S.-Mexico link being the most probable outcome.

The document argues that integrated organic farming systems, which combine crop rotation with low chemical inputs, are more effective at sequestering soil carbon than conventional chemical-intensive systems. It specifically challenges the long-held belief that no-till practices are superior for carbon sequestration, citing recent research indicating that no-till may only increase carbon at shallow depths while plowed soils often sequester more carbon at greater depths.