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This briefing note details the first phase of a project to reduce single-use foodware in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Based on surveys of 26 food-service businesses and 50 customers conducted in the summer of 2025, the report identifies a high willingness among both groups to transition to reusables, despite barriers such as cost, convenience, and a lack of city-wide infrastructure.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a response to the provincial government's 'Manitoba’s Path to Net Zero' plan, welcoming its focus on a low-carbon economy and the establishment of a Climate Change Committee of Cabinet, while urging the government to commit to detailed implementation plans and caution regarding carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The 'Cities in Transition' executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that energy and climate policy must integrate urban planning to reduce total energy demand. Using the city of Winnipeg as a primary case study, the research demonstrates that shifting from car-oriented sprawl to compact, walkable communities reduces emissions and lowers municipal infrastructure costs.

The report 'Manitoba Builds Green' explores the potential for scaling a deep energy retrofit (DER) industry in Manitoba to decarbonize the building sector, create sustainable employment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This report examines the potential for scaling up deep energy retrofits (DERs) in Manitoba, specifically within Winnipeg's residential building stock, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It argues that while upfront costs are high, public leadership through a green public bank, updated building codes, and a coordinated workforce strategy can drive significant economic growth and social equity.

This executive summary outlines the proceedings of the 2022 Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event focused on developing a stronger business case for water-related natural infrastructure (NI) across Canada's Prairies by addressing challenges in performance metrics, data collection, and economic visibility.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates Canada's 2023 federal budget, noting significant investments in clean energy, freshwater protection, and climate adaptation, while warning that continued financial support for fossil fuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS) may undermine net-zero goals.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) issued a statement mourning the death of James "Jim" Carr, a former IISD board member and vice-chair who served in that role from 2000 to 2008.

This fact sheet provides a historical overview of the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB), detailing its evolution from an Indigenous transportation route and fur trade corridor to a hub for hydroelectric power, mining, forestry, and tourism.

This report applies the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology to two infrastructure assets in Manitoba, Canada: Stephenfield Reservoir (a built asset) and Pelly’s Lake (a natural wetland). The study quantifies the economic value of the ecosystem and infrastructure services they provide and compares these to the costs of replacing those services with grey infrastructure. The findings demonstrate that both natural and naturalized built assets are significantly more cost-effective than traditional grey infrastructure for water storage, irrigation, and nutrient removal.

A brochure by the Lake Winnipeg Foundation and IISD proposing a $5 million interim retrofit for Winnipeg's North End Water Pollution Control Centre to reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Winnipeg by 70%, as a faster alternative to a planned $1.8 billion full upgrade.

This report summarizes the outcomes of the Advancing Natural Infrastructure in Canada forum held on November 14, 2018, which brought together experts to discuss the role of natural infrastructure (NI) in building climate-resilient landscapes and cities.

This report summarizes a 2018 forum on advancing natural infrastructure (NI) in Canada. It highlights the economic value of NI in mitigating climate risks, such as flooding, and identifies critical barriers to its implementation, including restrictive public sector accounting standards and funding gaps in federal programs like the ICIP and DMAF. The report recommends adopting natural asset accounting, utilizing green and resilience bonds, and creating dedicated federal NI funding to complement traditional grey infrastructure.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) tracks progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8)—focused on inclusive economic growth and decent work—within Canadian cities. Using five indicators derived from Statistics Canada data, the document analyzes trends in GDP per capita, GDP per employed person, median income, unemployment rates, and youth unemployment from the 1990s through 2016.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that biomass is a viable and abundant renewable energy source in Manitoba. It highlights the potential for both traditional and ecological biomass to replace fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide environmental benefits such as nutrient removal from landscapes. The document calls for the Government of Manitoba to support bioenergy markets through financial investment, infrastructure development, and research into high-value bioproducts.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) in Canadian cities. It evaluates health and well-being indicators—including neonatal mortality, chronic disease, substance abuse, and health worker density—using data from Statistics Canada and other national sources to compare trends across various Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs).

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 1 (ending poverty) across 13 Canadian cities. Using four specific indicators derived from UN recommendations and available data, the report finds that while child poverty is declining and social assistance coverage is broad, overall poverty rates have been volatile and are slowly increasing in most tracked cities, deviating from the 2030 target.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) discusses the critical role of cities in implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and details an IISD initiative to track SDG indicators across 13 major Canadian cities using official statistics.

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explains the nature of zebra mussels, their spread into Manitoba, and their potential ecological and infrastructural impacts on Lake Winnipeg.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines strategies for building climate-resilient urban transportation infrastructure, with a particular focus on Alberta's cities. It emphasizes the need for robustness, redundancy, and resourcefulness to mitigate the risks posed by rising temperatures and extreme weather events.