As a technical and policy analyst with the Pembina Institute's climate change program, P.J. Partington works to promote effective climate policy in Canada. The program is a centre for analysis and research on Canadian greenhouse gas reduction policy, with a particular focus on carbon pricing. P.J. has been with the Pembina Institute since February 2009, and is a regular spokesperson on climate issues in the news media.

He is a founding member and former executive of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. Prior to joining the Pembina Institute, P.J. managed the highly successful Canadian Youth Delegation to the UN climate negotiations. P.J. holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in environmental policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

This report provides recommendations about the design and environmental ambition of regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production and processing in Canada.

Carbon pricing is increasingly being implemented around the world as policymakers seek to drive innovation and cut greenhouse gas emissions at lowest cost. In this report, we explore the details of these systems in Alberta, British Columbia, California, Australia, Norway, and the European Union. 

This backgrounder outlines the Canadian context for the 18th Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, international climate change conference, taking place between November 26 and December 7, 2012 in Doha, Qatar.

Looking forward to 2013 and beyond, the Pembina Institute recommends four changes to improve the fairness and effectiveness of the carbon tax. This document is our formal submission to British Columbia's carbon tax review.

Results of interviews with sector representatives in B.C. over the impacts of the provincial carbon tax and its future design.

The combination of electricity sources — and therefore the qualities and characteristics of the electricity system — depend on where we live in the country.

Environment Canada is being pressured to allow existing coal plants in Canada to operate unabated until they reach 50 years of age, while softening future emissions targets. Combined, these backward steps could reduce the overall effectiveness of the regulations by more than half over their first fifteen years.

The very clear distinctions between the GHG intensities of 'natural bitumen' (from oilsands) and most conventional crudes supports the EU fuel-quality directive proposal to assign a higher emissions value to natural bitumen.

This evaluation was prepared by the Pembina Institute as input to the Climate Change Performance Index 2012. The index, published by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe, ranks countries' performance in controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Full information on the index, including countries' rankings, is available here.

This note provides a general overview of the issues on the table at the annual UN climate conference in Durban, South Africa, and assesses the Government of Canada's positions heading into the talks.

To reach a Pembina Institute spokesperson regarding the Durban climate change conference, see the media advisory.

Pembina Institute's comments and recommendations for Canada's proposed Reduction of Carbon Dioxide from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations.

The Pembina Institute supports Quebec's efforts to put a price on carbon and there are some strong elements to Quebec's draft regulations. However, our assessment against the objectives of effectiveness, comprehensiveness, fairness, and transparency raises some concerns. We see a number of opportunities to improve the draft regulations that would produce better environmental outcomes and improve public support for the final system.

Behind the switch: pricing Ontario electricity options examines how scaling back Ontario's plans to develop renewable energy would affect electricity prices, using an integrated energy system simulator to compare two main scenarios.

In the face of new regulations on large industrial facilities along with significant uncertainty posed by legal and legislative challenges in the U.S., Canada urgently needs to implement a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plan of its own.

This backgrounder outlines, in table format, the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada based on the most recent data, for 2008 and compared to 1990. Emissions are shown for each economic sector, such as electricity, oil and gas, cars and trucks, buildings and agriculture.

This briefing note outlines key information about greenhouse gas emissions from Canada's oilsands today and in the future. Recent attention to the issue of greenhouse gases in Canada and the U.S. prompted the Pembina Institute to outline key issues in more detail.

Pembina's analysis finds the proposed federal regulations for tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles and light trucks may have little to no effect on reducing climate change pollution.

Pembina's analysis of the recent controversy over the work of climate scientists finds that the science of climate change remains rigorous, providing a credible and compelling basis for policy decisions.

Linking National Cap-and-Trade Systems in North America examines the pros and cons of linking cap-and-trade systems and examines the prospects for linking in North America.

This evaluation was prepared by the Pembina Institute as input to the Climate Change Performance Index 2010, which ranks countries' performance in controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Full information on the index, including countries' rankings, is available here.

"A Closer Look at Costs" examines the latest research on the economic impacts and opportunities of reducing GHG emissions and adapting to climate change.

"Climate Change Science and Impacts" provides an overview of the latest research on how climate change is affecting our world, and how an average increase of 2˚C would affect Canada.

The Pembina Institute provided comments on the Government of Canada's proposed offset system.