Policy and Research
Low Carbon Economy
In addressing climate change, a solid consensus has emerged on the importance of placing a price on emitted carbon, whether through a tax or cap-and-trade system. Our work focuses on designing a carbon pricing policy and market models that are pragmatic and workable.
Sustainable Communities
It is at the community level that Canada’s environmental and economic challenges meet. Small towns and large cities are on the front lines of environmental problems such as waste management, water quality and transportation. At the same time, they are where most of the country’s economic activity occurs – and where economic hardships are most keenly felt. Constrained by provincial law, many municipalities are looking for innovative solutions. Sustainable Prosperity focuses on developing a broad array of market-based instruments to help municipalities address environmental concerns while creating new sources of revenue.
Ecosystem Services Markets
Ecosystem markets represent a new way of understanding the value of our country’s rich natural capital, particularly their value to our economy. Such markets would reflect the true worth of these assets to our economy and quality of life and encourage greater attention to their preservation. While there is a growing international awareness of ecosystem markets, this concept has not yet fully informed Canadian policy or innovation. Sustainable Prosperity disseminates this body of knowledge and develops specific policy applications for Canada.
Economy-Wide and Emerging Issues
In order to remain the “go to” organization for policy and market innovation, Sustainable Prosperity conducts research and development into emerging issues. In particular, we focus on market-based instruments, conducting original research in areas where we can make a unique contribution.
