Blog: Climate and Energy

Nov 23 2016

Refrigerators and spray cans: HFC policies are a perfect complement to carbon pricing

Part three of our blog series on complementary climate policies explores the recent global agreement to curb the use of hydrofluorocarbons—a potent greenhouse gas used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and spray cans. Specifically, we look at how a targeted policy that reduces HFCs under the global agreement is a complement to carbon pricing here in […]

Canadian Emissions Reductions With and Without U.S. Policy Harmonization

Nov 16 2016

Carbon Pricing Beside Trump’s America

by Chris Ragan and Dale Beugin

Climate and Energy Carbon Pricing Climate Change Competitiveness Opinion

It seems pretty likely at this point that a future President Trump isn’t going to implement a national carbon price in the United States. What does this mean for Canada? Does the result of last week’s election mean that we should scale back our ambition to price carbon? Unambiguously: No, it does not. American policy […]

Nov 11 2016

Are policies that support Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) worth it?

by Jason Dion

Climate and Energy Carbon Pricing Complementary Policies

This blog is the second in a series on the role of non-pricing climate policies. Can other policies substitute (i.e., be an alternative) for carbon pricing? Can they complement (i.e., work in addition) carbon pricing? In this blog, I consider policies that provide financial support for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), using Saskatchewan and its […]

Nov 8 2016

Fishing for complements

by Dale Beugin

Climate and Energy Carbon Coordination Carbon Pricing Complementary Policies

Carbon pricing isn’t the only tool in the climate policy tool kit. Yet not all policies that reduce GHG emissions do so cost-effectively. Which other GHG policies might make economic sense? Can they make sense in addition to carbon pricing? Or even instead of carbon pricing? Let’s play “complement or substitute,” climate policy edition Our […]

Oct 26 2016

Carbon Pricing and Innovation

by Dale Beugin

Climate and Energy Technology and Innovation Carbon Pricing Carbon tax Complementary Policies Wonk Wednesday

“Innovation” is buzzy these days, with lots of smart people thinking and writing about the role of policy in driving innovation to improve productivity and economic growth. And yes, innovation is great. It lets us use inputs—like capital, labour, and resources—more efficiently. It’s especially important in our efforts to reduce GHG emissions: innovation around new […]

Oct 24 2016

Assessing our emerging pan-Canadian climate policy

by Chris Ragan and Guest Blogger

Climate and Energy Cap-and-trade Carbon Pricing Carbon tax Climate Change Ecofiscal Commissioners Essay Opinion

by Commissioners Paul Boothe, Mel Cappe, Don Drummond, Glen Hodgson, Richard Lipsey, Nancy Olewiler, France St-Hilaire and Christopher Ragan For almost three years, Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission has been actively engaged in discussions about carbon pricing across the country. We have spoken with many governments, opposition parties, business groups and environmental organizations. Our emphasis has been […]

An Open Letter from Economists on Canadian Carbon Pricing

Climate and Energy