Adam ThornProgram Director, Transportation

Adam Thorn is the director of the Pembina Institute's transportation program and is based in Toronto. He has been an assistant professor with the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University since 2014, teaching public policy specializing in environmental policy. He has a deep understanding of how climate change impacts water governance, municipal infrastructure, and land use planning. In the past, Adam has collaborated in complex projects to advance clean water policy in municipalities in Ontario and in the Great Lakes, including working with the International Joint Commission. Adam holds a doctorate from Toronto Metropolitan University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Western University.

Contact Adam Thorn

cell: 416-859-4108 • email: adamt@pembina.org • tweet: @Adthorn

Adam Thorn's Recent Publications

Why Canada needs to put the pedal to the metal on the greening of trucks and buses A single long-haul truck emits 17 times as much emission than a passenger car, writes Adam Thorn. Which is why we need to focus on highway’s big dogs to win the high-carbon fight

Op-ed May 15, 2023- By Adam Thorn

The opportunity to transition away from fossil fuels is there for the taking, including in the critically important, yet sometimes overlooked, medium- and heavy-duty truck and bus sector of the transportation industry. The problem is that Canada doesn’t have a plan for how this transition will occur. Specifically, there is no federal strategy guiding the shift from diesel-fueled commercial vehicles to zero-emission ones within the government’s stated timelines.

The Municipal Role In Transportation

Publication April 27, 2023- By Carolyn Kim, Chandan Bhardwaj, Adam Thorn, others

With the right policies and support from higher orders of government, municipalities can make their transportation networks more efficient and reduce emissions. This report builds on literature to examine the current role of Canadian municipalities in transportation and how higher levels of government can support them. The findings and recommendations of this report will help inform future decision-making and policy-making related to transportation across all orders of government in Canada.

Recommendations for a national sales mandate for zero-emission light-duty vehicles Submission to Environment and Climate Change Canada

Publication March 22, 2023- By Adam Thorn, Sarah McBain

Unless the federal government enacts climate policies intended to speed up the transition from fossil fuels to electricity in the transportation sector, Canada cannot achieve its climate commitments. These four recommendations will help jumpstart the switch from gas to electric passenger cars with minimal economic disruption.

Urban Delivery Solutions Initiative Impact Report 2022: A Year in Review

Publication Jan. 30, 2023- By Adam Thorn

Goals and regulations are coming in to require more electric vehicles, and the Urban Delivery Solutions Initiative partners have been actively involved in helping Canada achieve the targets by developing and informing recommendations to the federal government and by building resources and tools for businesses and fleet operators. Our impact report outlines the work we've done in the last year.

When it comes to funding zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, it’s time for Canada to step on the gas Achieving net-zero in transportation is possible, while also investing in the growth of a burgeoning industry

Op-ed Oct. 12, 2022- By Adam Thorn

Zero-emission vehicles are critical to decarbonizing Canada’s transportation sector, the country’s second-highest emitter. They also represent a massive opportunity to make Canada’s economy stronger and cleaner. Funding infrastructure won’t be the only investment required to put more ZEVs on the road - purchase incentive programs will also continue to be essential for the ZEV transition.