Approximately one-third of all energy consumed in Canada is used to transport people and goods. Our significant fuel use for transportation contributes to the impacts of oil extraction and production, and produces significant greenhouse gases as well as local and regional air pollution. Greening Canada's transportation sector is therefore a key part of a transition to a clean energy future.
The Pembina Institute’s work on advancing a sustainable transportation system is focused regionally:
- In Ontario, where fuel consumption and greenhouse gases is highest.
- In key provinces, like British Columbia, where greener electricity grids can play a role in decarbonizing transportation through electric vehicles.
- In the Greater Toronto Area where congestion, sprawl and transit problems require policy solutions.
- Nationally, on federal investment and vehicle emission standards and options for Canadian drivers.
Our work
See our recent transportation-related publications, and get Pembina Institute's perspective on the latest transportation news by reviewing our blogs and op-eds.
You can also search all publications by topic or keyword.
Clean Air Benefits from Electric Vehicles
Potential impacts of additional electric vehicles in City of Campbell River, the Peace River Region and City of Richmond
Published March 28, 2013
Electric vehicles in British Columbia provide significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants, due to the province’s clean electricity. This research comprises of two scenarios for three communities: Campbell River, Richmond and the Peace River Regional District.
The combination of increased fuel efficiency due to Canadian regulations for passenger vehicles plus more electric vehicles will allow communities in British Columbia to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions relative to 2007 levels.
Opportunities for Canadians to drive less, reduce pollution and save money
Published Oct. 23, 2012
Transportation is responsible for a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and personal vehicles contribute the majority of these emissions. This report examines opportunities that Canadians have to reduce these impacts, lightening their load on the environment and saving fuel costs. The choices you make can reduce your personal environmental impact while saving money at the pump.
Opportunities for Canadians to drive less, reduce pollution and save money
Published Oct. 23, 2012
Transportation is responsible for a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and personal vehicles contribute the majority of these emissions. This report examines opportunities that Canadians have to reduce these impacts, lightening their load on the environment and saving fuel costs. The choices you make can reduce your personal environmental impact while saving money at the pump.
Encouraging location-efficient development in Ontario
Published July 19, 2012
Location-efficient homes — the opposite of urban sprawl — are a convenient distance from workplaces, amenities (such as stores and urban hubs) and/or rapid transit.
Residents in Ontario and elsewhere increasingly say they would give up a large house and yard and a long car commute in favour of location-efficient homes.
Live Where You Go identifies five policy tools that could be put in place now to encourage more location-efficient development in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region — creating more affordable choices for homebuyers to live where they go, work and play.
Other materials you may be interested in:
RBC-Pembina Home Location Study
Understanding where Greater Toronto Area residents prefer to live
Published July 16, 2012
How much does affordability of neighbourhood influence your decision about where to live? If home price wasn't an issue, would you prefer to live in a more location-efficient neighbourhood? These and other questions form the basis of this study designed to examine preferences for home location attributes in the Greater Toronto Area.
Our results find that while a detached home remains important for many homebuyers, preference is higher overall for other attributes regarding where to live, not just what to live in. A large house and spacious lot are not as important as living in a "location-efficient" neighbourhood — one that gives residents the ability to walk or take rapid transit. The results of the survey show that there may be demand for "in-between" housing that's more compact but family-friendly and close to where people go every day.
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