Lets challenge the ‘suburban myth’ that sprawl is cheaper, and make cities work better for all.
Giving municipalities the tools they need to identify and account for natural assets.
Exploring how economic activity & the environment are linked by valuing nature and putting a price on ecosystem services.
Municipalities are looking at rainwater differently – as a resource to be managed, instead of a waste product to be removed.
The Clean Economy Working Paper Series disseminates findings of ongoing environmental and clean economy work conducted by researchers from a range of disciplines including economics, public policy, political science, and law.
The Government of Ontario recently unveiled a new initiative to help tradespeople acquire green building skills. Scott at Smart Prosperity Institute explains why this is important for the green economy and decent work agendas.
Canadians have a good understanding of how the natural resources we use (like timber, oil and water) underpin our economy, but we understand less about the economic contributions of ecosystems.
Ask the person next to you to name an important economic sector where human health, the environment and the economy are closely linked, and there’s a good chance they’ll respond with food production. Canadians produce a lot of food (for our own use and for export) and we both rely on and impact nature in doing so.
Smart Prosperity Institute welcomes the opportunity to provide comments on Bill 139 - (Schedule 4) – the proposed Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017: Amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act.
Last week the California Legislature passed a proposal to extend the state’s cap-and-trade regime – California’s landmark program to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
A well-designed carbon price -- achieved either through a tax or emissions trading system -- is a perfect example of how flexibility, stringency, and predictability work together to create a cost-effective environmental policy that spurs innovation.
As part of our submission to the Green Growth Knowledge Platform’s (GGKP) 5th Annual Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure, the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (MNAI) has prepared a report on the emerging strategy to manage natural assets, such as woodlands, wetlands, and creeks in urban areas, as part of a sustainable infrastructure strategy.
Imagine it’s the year 2030 (and beyond). Canada is very different – yet still instantly recognizable. Our cities and towns are vibrant and green, with clean air, and great quality of life.
This White Paper presents areas where Smart Prosperity Institute sees a need for more analysis to underpin the development of policies that support emissions reduction and clean economic growth, with the wellbeing of Canadians at heart.
Canadian municipalities are exploring exciting new ways to provide water and stormwater services to their communities. At Blue Cities 2017, we heard from the municipalities who are adapting within a changing industry by providing their citizens with increased value from efficient, sustainable services.
Did you know that in 2013, Ottawa residents produced 175,000 tonnes of trash? This waste not only costs the city millions of dollars ($23.4 million in 2014, to be exact), it’s also filling our landfills and polluting our waterways.
Offsets represent an important and high-potential policy area for reducing GHG emissions at the lowest cost, extending incentives outside beyond regulated sectors, and accelerating clean innovation
Will green transitions have a positive impact on the nature of work in Ontario? And if not, could public policy be used to encourage more inclusive outcomes?
If the right policies are not put in place through the green transition, we will have missed a vital economic and environmental opportunity: to draw upon the diverse skills and perspectives of all Ontarians to solve today’s pressing challenges.
Smart Prosperity Institute welcomes the opportunity to provide comments to the City of Toronto and Toronto Water on their proposed Stormwater Charge.
