(Dis)Incentives by Design: Carbon pricing and biofuels in Canada

(Dis)Incentives by Design: Carbon pricing and biofuels in Canada

Climate and Energy

A core plank of carbon pricing is that it provides an incentive to use lower-carbon alternatives. In the case of transportation fuels, carbon pricing should make fossil fuels relatively more expensive compared to things like biofuels or other emerging low-carbon technologies, and make petroleum fuels less attractive. But do the four carbon pricing systems in […]

TLDR: The skinny on Ecofiscal’s latest report about biofuel policies

TLDR: The skinny on Ecofiscal’s latest report about biofuel policies

Climate and Energy

The Ecofiscal Commission’s latest report, Course Correction, looks at the economic and environmental case for biofuel policies in Canada. If you don’t have time to read the report, here’s what you need to know. Canadian governments have supported the production and use of biofuels for over two decades (see here for a quick intro to […]

Unpacking the WCI: Hangin’ tough

Climate and Energy

Over the past couple of months our summer blog series Unpacking the Western Climate Initiative has taken a look under the hood of California, Québec and Ontario’s integrated cap-and-trade system. In this final installment, we review what we’ve learned and take a look at some recent developments that have been in the headlines. Overall, we […]

complementary climate policies

Unpacking the WCI: Backhanded complements?

Climate and Energy

As we’ve noted in our summer blog series, California has a cap-and-trade system. But it’s also got a low-carbon fuel standard. And a renewable electricity portfolio standard. And vehicle emissions performance standards. And a swath of other policies to reduce GHG emissions. In fact, the California Air and Resources Board estimates that these “complementary climate […]

Comparing Stringency of Carbon Pricing Policies

TLDR: Comparing Stringency of Carbon Pricing Policies

Climate and Energy

We have a new report out this week on comparing the stringency of provincial carbon pricing policies. In case you don’t have time to read it all, this blog provides quick overview of the essentials. Be sure to check out the full report for (much) more detail. Comparing stringency is important… but trickier than it […]