Technology and Innovation Archives - Page 2 of 5

Jun 28 2017

Can subsidies for electric vehicles “boost the signal” from carbon pricing?

Québec car buyers might have more than one reason to consider an electric vehicle (EV). For one, Québec’s cap-and-trade system increases the cost of gasoline. But the province also provides a cash rebate for going electric. Does that combination makes for good policy? Does Québec — or for that matter, any other province — need […]

May 24 2017

Explaining Output-Based Allocations (OBAs)

by Jason Dion

Climate and Energy Technology and Innovation Carbon tax Competitiveness Provincial Policy Revenue Recycling

Last week the federal government unveiled a proposal for the carbon levy that it plans to apply in provinces that don’t implement their own carbon price. Under the federal instrument, most types of emissions would pay the full value of the carbon tax. But large emitters that face global competition would only pay part of […]

May 3 2017

How emitters respond to carbon pricing and to revenue recycling

by Dale Beugin

Climate and Energy Pollution Technology and Innovation Carbon Pricing Revenue Recycling Wonk Wednesday

A carbon price pretty clearly creates incentives for emitters to produce fewer GHG emissions. But there’s more than one way to reduce emissions. In today’s blog, I’m going to dig into the vault, and pull out an old piece of modelling analysis that didn’t quite make it into our reports, because it was a little […]

Apr 26 2017

Road salt — a costly way to fight winter

by Brendan Frank

Livable Cities Technology and Innovation Economics for the Rest of Us Wonk Wednesday

As winter recedes and spring fills the air, Canadians find the chalky residue of salt everywhere. Road salt is an inexpensive option to clear our streets of ice and snow, but the damages to our cities and environment cost us in the long run. Can ecofiscal policies offer a potential solution? Or might another policy toolkit […]

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 […]

Sep 14 2016

Self-driving cars: A techno-utopia or an eco-nightmare?

by Guest Blogger

Climate and Energy Livable Cities Pollution Technology and Innovation Air Pollution Clean-tech Traffic Wonk Wednesday

by Simon Altman Elon Musk recently announced that Tesla will have a fully autonomous car ready by 2020, and Tesla is not alone. As this technology moves from dream to reality, some have started to discuss the opportunities it will present, while others are stuck dwelling on the risks. In this blog we explore these […]