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Energy Subsidies in Canada

The GSI program of work for Canada undertakes research and policy engagement on subsidies for fuel consumers and producers at the provincial and national level. It’s key focus is on identifying the scale of subsidie, and strategies for their reform and ultimate removal, in line with Canada’s commitments to the G7 and G20.

Research

Objectives
  • Reduce expenditure on fossil fuel subsidies that promote unsustainable environmental and social impacts
  • Reform subsidies to level the playing field for clean energy
  • Improve the fair social distribution of subsidy expenditure
  • Build a greater understanding of the scale of subsidies in Canada, and how these subsidies can be better allocated within the economy to benefit economic, environmental and social outcomes
Collaborations

 

In carrying forward this work the Global Subsidies Initiative has collaborated with a number of organizations including Equiterre, Oil Change International, Environmental Defence and Climate Action Network Canada.

Reports: A Dialogue on a Just and Managed Transition to a Paris-Aligned Low-Carbon Future

August 16, 2018
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Oil Change International (OCI) hosted a Chatham House Rule round table discussion on the just and managed transition in May 2018. This discussion paper highlights key outcomes from this round table for the purposes of informing continuing conversation.
https://www.iisd.org/library/dialogue-just-and-managed-transition-paris-aligned-low-carbon-future

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Reports: G7 Fossil Fuel Subsidy Scorecard: Tracking the phase-out of fiscal support and public finance for oil, gas and coal

Despite their numerous commitments, not only have G7 governments taken limited action to address fossil fuel subsidies, but they have also failed to put in place any mechanisms to define and document the full extent of their support to oil, gas and coal, or to hold themselves accountable for achieving these pledges. The G7 fossil fuel subsidy scorecard aims to address this accountability gap and track, for the first time, each G7 country’s progress in phasing out fossil fuel subsidies across seven indicators.

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Reports: The End of Coal: Alberta's coal phase-out

In November 2015, the Canadian province of Alberta committed to a phase-out of coal power by 2030. The phase-out of coal power in Alberta will involve the retirement of over 40 per cent of Alberta’s 2016 installed capacity and the de facto phase-out of local thermal coal mines.

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