The Scale of Canada’s Home Retrofit Challenge
Heating, cooling and lighting Canadian buildings takes a lot of energy. In 2019, commercial and residential buildings together were responsible for 25 percent of total energy consumption, more than the entire transportation sector. While this energy keeps people comfortable and goods at the right temperature, it creates greenhouse gas emissions. The federal government’s 2030 Emissions […]Ottawa’s wildly unrealistic net-zero goal for buildings – Financial Post Op-Ed
The federal government’s Emission Reduction Plan, which it published in July, calls for economy-wide greenhouse gas reductions of 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. In particular, it projects emissions from homes and commercial buildings that will fall 37 per cent from 2005 levels. Judging by reasonable estimates of what it would take to achieve this, however, that goal appears wildly unrealistic.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings are the third largest source of emissions in Canada. (The first two are oil and gas and transportation) In contrast to some other sectors of the economy and despite better technology and efficiency, GHGs from buildings have actually increased since 2005, partly because the…
Hodgson, Hodgson – Federal Purchases of Direct Air Capture Would Help Build a Viable Market
From: Glen Hodgson and David Hodgson To: Canadians Concerned About Climate Targets Date: October 3, 2022 Re: Federal Purchases of Direct Air Capture Would Help Build a Viable Market Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will be difficult, given the large stock of capital engaged in the production and use of fossil fuels. Carbon capture has become a […] S4 E14: Only Hot Air? with Charles DeLand
Ottawa wants to slash greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian home heating. But is the goal little more than hot air? The C.D. Howe Institute’s Charles DeLand tells host Michael Hainsworth that cutting emissions to 0% by 2050 will cost more than $6 billion a year and we need to start renovating homes now.
Only Hot Air? The Implications of Replacing Gas and Oil in Canadian Homes
Canadian homes emit about six percent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Federal government aims to bring down 2030 building emissions by 42 percent compared to 2019, with the entire economy producing net zero emissions by 2050. This report examines current sources of emissions from Canadian homes and presents a scenario in which […] Charles DeLand – What is the Actual Plan? Long-lived Investments Need Consistent Signals
From: Charles DeLand To: Canadians Concerned about Prosperity Date: August 15, 2022 Re: What is the Actual Plan? Long-lived Investments Need Consistent Signals Russia’s Ukraine invasion has grabbed the world’s attention and understandably drawn focus to energy security. Despite overwhelming and vocal political support for Ukraine, governments are still only offering mixed signals and shifting […] S4 E12: Canada’s 2030 ERP and the Future of Alberta’s Oil Patch with Kent Fellows
Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) is missing details required to make informed decisions about a way forward. And 2030 is right around the corner. But C.D. Howe Institute Fellow-in-Residence Kent Fellows tells host Michael Hainsworth he’s optimistic Canada’s oil patch will remain competitive for years to come even if the ERP doesn’t factor it in.
Jon Johnson – Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – An Improvement on Build Back Better?
From: Jon Johnson To: Canadian Trade Watchers Date: August 04, 2022 Re: Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – An Improvement on Build Back Better? President Biden’s proposed Build Back Better legislation (with its discriminatory subsidy provisions for electric vehicles satisfying US content requirements and produced only at unionized plants in the US) is now dead. […] Charles DeLand – A Reality Check for Canada’s Emissions Reduction Blueprint (II)
To: Canadians Concerned about Climate Change From: Charles DeLand Date: August 3, 2022 Re: A Reality Check for Canada’s Emissions Reduction Blueprint (II) The federal government’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan was the subject of a recent C.D. Howe Institute special policy seminar to address several key questions: What’s realistic? How feasible are the Plan’s projected 2030 outcomes, and the […] Charles DeLand – A Reality Check for Canada’s Emissions Reduction Blueprint
To: Canadians Concerned about Climate Change From: Charles DeLand Date: August 2, 2022 Re: A Reality Check for Canada’s Emissions Reduction Blueprint The federal government’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan was the subject of a recent C.D. Howe Institute special policy seminar to address several key questions: What’s realistic? How feasible are the Plan’s projected 2030 outcomes, and the implications […] Olmstead, Yatchew – An Alberta Advantage: Carbon Pricing in the Wholesale Electricity Market
To: Canada’s Policymakers From: Derek E. H. Olmstead and Adonis Yatchew Date: July 29, 2022 Re: An Alberta Advantage: Carbon Pricing in the Wholesale Electricity Market The Alberta wholesale electricity market provides an ideal setting to assess the effectiveness of carbon pricing in influencing firm behaviour and carbon emissions. This is because production costs associated with carbon pricing […] Conference Report – Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: What’s Realistic?
Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: What’s Realistic? Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) is “a plan to have a plan,” according to a new Policy Seminar Report from the C.D. Howe Institute. The C.D. Howe Institute held a Special Policy Seminar on June 23, 2022, with the goal of providing an […]