Keynote panel: Sustainable Energy Transition: The Role of Renewables in Europe and Canada
This panel explored how, at the macro level, Europe and Canada are transitioning to a sustainable energy economy and adding renewables to their energy mixes. EU initiatives as part of the Union’s updated 2030 climate and energy policy were studied, as were reasons for Canada’s less ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets.
“Accelerating the Transition to a Low Carbon Emission Society: Reflections on the Canadian Context,” by James Meadowcroft, Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University and Canadian Research Chair in Governance for Sustainable Development.
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“Comparing EU Climate Governance: 2008 and 2014,” by Christian Hey, Secretary General of the German Advisory Council for the Environment, Berlin.
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“The Politics of Decarbonization and the Shifting Context of Global Climate Governance,” by Matthew Hoffmann, Professor of Political Science and Co-Director, Environmental Governance Lab, University of Toronto.
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Panel 2: Top Down or Bottom Up?: Institutional and political contexts for decision-making in the EU and Canada
This second panel examined EU and Canadian renewable energy/climate change initiatives within their respective multilevel systems. Particular attention was paid to the interactions between the EU and the national level policy in Europe and the federal/provincial interface in Canada. In Canada, climate change initiatives are increasingly devolved to the provincial and local levels, whereas in Europe, EU policy has served to prod national and local efforts. This panel explored how federal or multilevel systems may offer diverse opportunities for renewable energy and climate change leadership and innovation, with a particular focus on Ontario within the Canadian context.
“Opportunities – and Limits – of Climate Leadership by Canadian Provinces,” by Kathryn Harrison, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia.
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“How Europeanised are European Renewable Policies?,” by Francis McGowan, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
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“Ontario Renewable Energy and Climate Change Policy in the Canadian Intergovernmental and North American Contexts,” by Douglas Macdonald, Senior Lecturer, School of the Environment, University of Toronto.
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Panel 3: Social acceptance and public attitudes toward renewable energy and climate change in Canada and Europe
“Popular Support and EU Climate Policy,” by Mats Braun, Senior Lecturer, Metropolitan University Prague, The Czech Republic.
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“Divided Power: Social Friction and Green Energy Development in Ontario,” by Stephen Hill, Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University.
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“Energy Transition and Challenges for Wind Energy in Switzerland,” by Maya Jegen, Professor, Department of Political Science, Université du Québec à Montréal.
Panel 4: Cities, Energy, and Climate Change: Experiences from Europe and Canada
This panel drew particular attention to efforts of municipal jurisdictions in Europe and Canada in addressing issues of climate change and renewable energy. In the European context, speakers considered the European Commission’s support for the Covenant of Mayors’ efforts in this arena, placing this in a broader comparative perspective.
“A Lot of Hot Air? Measuring the Climate Change Initiatives of Canadian Cities,” by Elizabeth Schwartz, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia.
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“Municipal Reactions to European Energy and Climate Governance: The Case of German Cities,” by Anne Tews, Technical University Darmstadt.
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“The Covenant of Mayors Experience: Lessons for Fostering Local Climate Policy,” by Lena Bendlin, Research Associate, Environmental Policy Research Center, Freie Universität Berlin.
View the videoconference presentation below.
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“Cities and Climate Governance: From Experimental Initiatives to Reshaping Urban Development,” by Matthew Paterson, Professor, School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa.
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City Perspectives: Practitioners’ Insights
David Chernushenko, Councillor for Capital Ward and Chair of Environment Committee, City of Ottawa.
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Detlef Gerdts, Department of environment and climate protection, Osnabrück.
The presentation slides are forthcoming.
Janice Ashworth, Operations Manager, Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op (OREC).
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Panel 5: Policy Options for Renewable Energy Development in the European Union
This panel delved more deeply into particular issues affecting renewable energy/climate change policy in the EU, looking at selected issues and examples.
“Different Transition Paths to Low Carbon Power: Germany, UK, EU,” by Volkmar Lauber, Emeritus Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Salzburg.
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“Are the Interactions Between the EU’s Renewable Energy Support and Emissions Trading System (ETS) Really so Negative?” by Pablo del Río González, Research Associate, Institute of Public Goods and Policies, High Council for Scientific Research, Madrid, Spain.
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“The New Energy Union: Priorities and Conflicting Policy Objectives,” by Stephan Schott, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University.
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Panel 6: Policy Options for Renewable Energy Development in Ontario and Canada
This panel delved more deeply into particular issues affecting renewable energy/climate change policy in Canada, and Ontario, in particular.
“Lessons Learned from a Decade of Promoting Renewable Energy in Ontario,” by Nic Rivers, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa and Canada Research Chair in Climate and Energy Policy.
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“Choices, Pathways, and Emerging Renewables: Exploring the Role of New Renewable Electricity Technologies within Illustrative Pathways for Ontario’s Electricity System,” by Daniel Rosenbloom, Doctoral Candidate, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University.
View the presentation slides here, and an accompanying briefing note here.
“Vulnerable Households and Distributed Renewable Electricity in Ontario: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities,” by Ian Rowlands, Professor, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo.
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“The Politics of Renewable Energy and Ambitious Policies: Comparing Ontario, California & Texas,” by Leah C. Stokes, Assistant Professor, The University of California, Santa Barbara.
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