Rick Smith

#GraphicOfTheWeek: Thermal power utilisation fell in 28 of 31 provinces in China between 2023 and 2025, with the fastest declines in provinces that have retrofitted coal plants for more flexible operation. 🇨🇳

Explore more of Ember’s graphics: ember-energy.org/lat...

What’s the cost of strengthening industrial carbon pricing for oil sands companies? Just a Timbit per barrel—or 50 cents on average by 2030.

Get the facts and explore our new cost calculator ⬇️
https://climateinstitute.ca/industrial-carbon-pricing-will-cost-timbit-per-barrel-canada-oil-sands-sector/

A Timbit a barrel!

NEW RESEARCH: Canada could save up to $10 billion each year if governments invest now to prepare public infrastructure for rising heat and heavy rains. Read our latest report 🧵⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/reports/prep...

It’s an important moment for the Canadian climate change discussion. Grateful for our PM’s engagement and passion on these critical issues.

In order to become an energy superpower, Canada needs to make clean energy a national priority, says Peter Nicholson, Chair of the Board of the Climate Institute. Solar power will be a key ingredient in the country’s electricity growth.

Read more 🔽
www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/research-ide...

New federal auto strategy positions auto sector and Canadians to benefit from electric future Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate Institute, made the following statement about the federal government’s new automotive strategy.

The new federal auto-strategy aims to reduce emissions and strengthen Canada's auto sector, while making it more affordable for people and businesses to go electric.

Read our full statement from @rjcsmith.bsky.social on today's announcement
climateinstitute.ca/news/new-fed...

La nouvelle stratégie fédérale sur l’automobile positionne le secteur et les Canadiens pour tirer parti de l’avenir électrique Rick Smith, président de l’Institut climatique du Canada, a fait la déclaration suivante au sujet de la nouvelle stratégie automobile ...

La stratégie automobile fédérale vise à réduire les émissions et à renforcer le secteur automobile du Canada, tout en rendant le passage à l'électrique plus abordable.

Consultez la déclaration complète de @rjcsmith.bsky.social sur l'annonce d'aujourd'hui ⬇️
institutclimatique.ca/news/nouvell...

What’s driving EV adoption in Canada? Our latest Insight digs into the numbers to see how EV availability standards, subsidies, and affordability shape EV adoption. ⬇️
440megatonnes.ca/insight/what...

Industrial carbon pricing is one of the most cost-effective tools Canada has to maintain competitiveness, diversify markets and cut emissions. Calls to weaken or eliminate this policy get some fundamentals wrong. Here are the facts ⬇️🧵

Federal proposal to fix industrial carbon pricing: recommendations Industrial carbon pricing is a critically important policy lever, but on its own is not a silver bullet and needs to be complemented with ...

The federal gov’s proposal to strengthen industrial carbon pricing won’t be effective without improvements.
Our new research shows what changes are needed to make sure this critical policy is cutting emissions and driving low-carbon investments ⬇️

climateinstitute.ca/news/fe...

For Canadians, decarbonization is a patriotic act Decarbonization is an act of patriotism. We need to deal with the clear threats posed by Trump in the short term, but at the same time we ...

Decarbonization around the world is accelerating, not slowing down. Read @rjcsmith.bsky.social’s latest on how building a cleaner, more competitive economy that is less dependent on the U.S. is an act of patriotism.
climateinstitute.ca/for-can...

La décarbonation, un acte de patriotisme La décarbonation et le drapeau du Canada vont main dans la main. La transition vers une économie plus propre est la ...

La décarbonation s’accélère à travers le monde. Lisez le dernier billet de blogue de @rjcsmith.bsky.social sur comment la construction d’une économie plus propre et plus compétitive qui dépend moins des États-Unis est un acte de patriotisme.
institutclimatique.ca/decarbonisat...

For Canadians, decarbonization is a patriotic act OPINION | Canada must leapfrog the United States to ensure our economy prospers with the next wave of climate action

“Doing everything we can to decarbonize Canada isn’t just something we’re doing to reduce emissions. It’s a contribution to a better future for our country.”

Read @rjcsmith.bsky.social’s latest piece on the latest US aggression, Canadian patriotism and climate policy.
corporateknights.com/perspe...

Clean energy continues to break records across Europe ⬇️

Trump calls out Carney, says Canada ‘lives because of the United States’ in Davos speech President renews his demand for Denmark to allow the U.S. to annex Greenland, but says he won’t use military force

Unkind thought by angry Canadian: at this rate Canada will actually outlive the United States www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-pol...

2026 will likely be among the hottest on record: Environment Canada | CBC News Environment and Climate Change Canada released a new global forecast indicating that 2026 will likely be among the four hottest years on record.

New analysis projects that 2026 is "virtually certain" to be among the hottest years ever recorded—an important reminder of the urgent need to build a cleaner, more resilient economy. 📈
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Inadequate, energy-inefficient housing for Indigenous people can have serious health impacts and long-term costs.

Our latest report with Indigenous Clean Energy shows how govts can work together and with communities to find solutions. 👇
climateinstitute.ca/reports/heal...

NEW – Analysis: UK renewables enjoy record year in 2025 – but gas power still rises

✍️ by @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org and Ho Woo Nam

Read here ➡️ buff.ly/YTa31NF

EU’s new ‘green tariff’ rules on high-carbon goods come into force The ‘border adjustment mechanism’ aims to create a level playing field while also encouraging decarbonisation

"The biggest shake-up of green trade rules for decades comes into force today, as companies selling steel, cement and other high-carbon goods into the EU will have to prove they comply with low-carbon regulations or face fines."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Huge congrats to all these fantastic Canadians but in particular my hard-working friend @ziyatong.bsky.social ! So well deserved! www.gg.ca/en/appointme...

People Who Drink Bottled Water on a Daily Basis Ingest 90,000 More Microplastic Particles Each Year Drinking water in plastic bottles contains countless particles too small to see. New research finds that people who drink water from them on a daily basis ingest far more microplastics than those who ...

I wrote a book about the problems with bottled water ("Bottled and Sold") several years ago. Here's just another reason to avoid it.
www.wired.com/story/people...

2025 was defined by uncertainty on climate policy in Canada that needs quick resolution | Corporate Knights OPINION | There were some wins but when it comes to concrete actions to protect people and communities across Canada, much is left wanting

The past year was a whirlwind when it came to climate policy.

Read @rjcsmith.bsky.social's year-end wrap up and look-ahead to 2026.👇

"The problems we face are urgent, but the solutions are right in front of us."
corporateknights.com/perspectives...

Ottawa names expert coalition to roll out stalled green investing guide Canadian Climate Institute to lead development of climate-focused investing taxonomy along with investor-led organization Business Future Pathways

“If you look at the list of trading partners of Canada outside of the U.S., almost all of them have national taxonomies, either fully developed or developing. So, it becomes a question of market access and access to capital in the energy transition." 👇
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

Developing Canada’s Sustainable Investment Guidelines - Canadian Climate Institute BACKGROUNDER Overview In December 2025, the federal government announced two years of seed funding to develop Canada’s sustainable investment guidelines, commonly referred to as a sustainable finance ...

The Canadian Climate Institute is honoured to be selected to develop made-in-Canada sustainable investment guidelines, working with Business Future Pathways, to help mobilize private capital and make Canada more competitive in the global energy transition. ⬇️ climateinstitute.ca/news/develop...

Canada’s new oil and gas methane rules are a cost-effective policy win that’s long overdue - Canadian Climate Institute Reducing methane in the oil and gas sector is one of the cheapest ways to cut emissions and supports Canadian companies leading the charge.

Canada’s finalized methane regulations for the oil and gas sector are a cost-effective policy win that’s long overdue. Read our full statement ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/news/canadas...

Batteries now cheap enough to make dispatchable solar economically feasible Energy think tank Ember says utility-scale battery costs have fallen to $65/MWh outside China and the United States, enabling solar power to be delivered when needed.

This is incredible (good news too): “After a 40% fall in 2024 in battery equipment costs, it’s clear we’re on track for another major fall in 2025…The economics for batteries are unrecognizable, & the industry is only just getting to grips with this new paradigm”
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/12/b...

Those tree hugging hippies in Hungary now lead the world in the share of electricity generated from solar with almost 25% of their electricity coming from solar in 2024.

A remarkable leap from just 7% five years ago.

Grid-scale batteries improve reliability and cut costs, but Canada has been slow to respond Let’s dig into some of the factors driving the battery boom, and how Canada can use them to its advantage.

Grid-scale battery storage is expected to attract US$66 billion of investment this year. Here’s how Canada can leverage batteries to cut costs and improve the grid.
climateinstitute.ca/grid-scale-b...

EU strikes deal on climate target to cut emissions by 90% by 2040 The European Union agreed on Wednesday to set a legally binding climate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040, and buy foreign carbon credits to cover 5% of the emi...

📢 The European Union just finalized its legally binding target to cut climate pollution 90% by 2040 from 1990 levels.📉⬇️
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...