Advocating for effective policies and collaborative solutions
Reducing the harmful impacts of fossil fuels while supporting the transition to an energy system that is clean, safe and sustains a high quality of life requires advancing solutions from various approaches.
The Pembina Institute advocates for policies and practices that go beyond the bare minimum in managing the impacts of energy development. We equip leaders in the corporate, public and non-profit sectors with reliable and relevant information and analysis, and we work with a range of allies to implement collaborative, creative solutions to today’s energy challenges.
Research and Analysis
As Canada’s go-to source of energy expertise, we provide research, analysis and recommendations to inform policies and practices related to energy.
In recent years, the capacity to effectively evaluate scientific research has been reduced in government and other sectors. The Pembina Institute’s critical examination of energy issues and factual research informs our advocacy for approaches that protect our natural systems and communities. Our technical acumen and policy recommendations fill an important gap in Canada’s energy discourse, and players across the spectrum rely on our work.
Convening and collaboration
Our deep understanding of today’s energy challenges, coupled with experienced facilitation and engagement specialists allow us to bring together the right individuals at the right time to tackle tough issues, and work toward productive solutions.
We convene important conversations with thought leaders from industry, government, communities and the environmental sector to identify common ground and move solutions forward.
Thought Leader Forums
Clean Future Forum (2019)
The Clean Future Forum explored the challenges and opportunities in transitioning B.C.’s energy system to one that is increasingly clean and consistent with its climate commitments. The Vancouver event saw thought leaders and policy makers tackle the tough questions needed to inform B.C.’s climate and energy planning, including how far electrification — shifting industry, transportation, and buildings powered by fossil fuels to renewable electricity — can get B.C. towards the goal of decarbonization. Participants also examined other clean energy opportunities available in B.C., including bioenergy, renewable gas, and hydrogen. Read more.
On the Road to Freight Excellence in Ontario (2017)
This invitation-only freight Thought Leader Forum convened industry and business leaders, local, regional, provincial and federal policymakers and planners, academics and non-governmental experts to understand the current state and emerging trends in urban sustainable goods movement; identify key areas for additional research; and identify opportunities to collaborate on this research to achieve excellence in a carbon constrained environment. See more here.
Pathways to Net Zero Buildings in B.C. (2015)
This forum convened leading industry experts, utilities, local governments, the provincial government and Pacific Coast partners to develop and vet a pragmatic pathway for achieving high energy efficiency and low carbon buildings in B.C., with a focus on regulatory options. Read the forum summary and policy report.
Clean Electricity (2013)
This forum brought participants together to discuss a Clean Electricity Standard— a greenhouse gas emissions-intensity performance standard for the electricity sector in Alberta. Read the forum summary.
Responsible Shale Gas Development in Canada (2012)
Key decision makers and experts on shale gas from the public and private sectors, First Nations, community groups, environmental non-governmental organizations and academia came together at the Shale Gas Thought Leader Forum to establish a base-level understanding of environmental concerns associated with shale gas development. Read the forum proceedings.
Oil Sands Metrics (2011)
The Oil Sands Metrics Thought Leader Forum outlined what a successful oilsands metrics system would need to include to be relevant, accurate and credible. Read the summary report.
Wind and Cogeneration Opportunities in Alberta (2010)
Hosted by the Pembina Institute and the University of Calgary's Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy, this forum focused on helping Alberta expand the development and deployment of cogeneration systems (small and large) and wind energy to replace coal-fired electricity generation. Read the summary report.
Canadian ENGO-Industry Cap-and-Trade Dialogue (2009)
This dialogue brought together nine companies and eight environmental organizations to discuss and outline the key elements of an effective cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. Read the joint statement from participants.
Industry Convening
Renewables in Remote Communities (2017)
A followup from the previous Renewables in Remote Microgrids conferences, this event in Whitehorse attracted 200 participants to showcase the great momentum in this area. Featuring story sharing, innovative thinking and discussions on financial capacity and human capacity issues facing renewable energy deployment in remote Indigenous communities across Canada, the conference focused on two critical dimensions of advancing clean energy systems: financial capacity and human capacity. See details here.
Neighbourhood Freight Forums (2017)
Two meetings brought together local businesses and stakeholders to improve shipping and deliveries and reduce gridlock in the Greater Toronto Area. The first meeting was an opportunity for stakeholders to voice concerns about issues like parking, traffic lights, congestion, trucking and more. In the second meeting, participants worked towards designing solutions that could help reduce gridlock, improve delivery reliability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. See details here.
Renewables and Remote Microgrids (2013 and 2015)
These events, held in 2013 in Toronto and 2015 in Yellowknife, brought together more than 100 experts, manufacturers, policy makers, utilities and community members from across North America to understand the benefits of renewable energy for remote indigenous and other communities, with the goal of promoting economic development, environmental sustainability and energy security. Read our 2015 blog, Bringing renewables to remote microgrids.
Renewables in Oil and Gas (2012)
This workshop brought together representatives from major oil and gas companies and Pembina Institute experts on renewable energy to reflect on the barriers and opportunities to move renewables forward in Canada. The project sought to highlight and share case studies and "lessons learned" from the oil and gas sector's long-term involvement with renewable energy — most notably solar, wind, geothermal and ethanol production. Read the executive summary.
Advisory panels
3rd party expert reviews
A number of large organizations have brought us in as credible experts to advise on and critique life cycle studies. We bring our valuable expertise on life cycle analysis to the table to help strengthen processes and results.
Reviews of corporate sustainability
We have facilitated multi-stakeholder reviews of corporate sustainability and reporting performance for a variety of major companies. Our reviews include sensitivity analysis and leading-edge recommendations for ongoing improvements in accuracy and transparency.
Project innovation
Various companies have consulted us to bring environmental innovation to the design and ongoing operations of their major projects. We have convened leading North American experts on fields such as biodiversity, GHG emissions, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic issues to compile constructive, science-based and solutions-oriented recommendations.
Energy literacy
We have helped bring together diverse representatives from industry, academia, First Nations and environmental organizations to provide feedback and guidance on environmental literacy projects, such as a documentary film series aimed at spurring fact-based dialogue on energy and environment decisions.
Additional engagement tools
The Pembina Institute has a number of trained and experienced facilitators on staff with intimate knowledge of energy and sustainability issues. We can support your engagement needs with a variety of tools, including:
- Designing and facilitating processes, meetings or workshops
- Presenting webinars to share your work and inspire discussion
- Developing and administering surveys to collect input and feedback.
Credible Perspectives
The Pembina Institute’s experts and analysts are widely recognized — by the news media, governments, industry and the environmental sector — for providing credible, evidence-based insights into today’s energy challenges.
We are regularly asked to provide an expert perspective on emerging issues related to energy and the environment.
Our commentary pieces are published in news outlets across Canada.
Through the Pembina Institute Speakers Bureau, our experts deliver informative presentations to companies, government and the public.
We share our research and analysis with decision makers, journalists and the public, to help put today’s energy issues into context and equip leaders to make informed decisions on technical and policy issues.