Keynote panel: Sustainable Energy Transition: The Role of Renewables in Europe and Canada

This panel听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鈥檚 updated 2030 climate and energy policy were studied, as were reasons for Canada鈥檚 less ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets.

“Accelerating the Transition to a Low Carbon Emission Society: Reflections on the Canadian Context,” 产测听, Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, 杏吧原创 University and Canadian Research Chair in Governance for Sustainable Development.
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“Comparing EU Climate Governance: 2008 and 2014,” by , 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, 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 鈥 and Limits 鈥 of Climate Leadership by Canadian Provinces,” 产测听, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia.
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“How Europeanised are European Renewable Policies?,” by, 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, 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, Senior Lecturer, Metropolitan University Prague, The Czech Republic.
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“Divided Power: Social Friction and Green Energy Development in Ontario,” by, Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University.
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“Energy Transition and Challenges for Wind Energy in Switzerland,” by, Professor, Department of Political Science, Universit茅 du Qu茅bec 脿 Montr茅al.

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鈥檚 support for the Covenant of Mayors鈥 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, 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, Technical University Darmstadt.
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“The Covenant of Mayors Experience: Lessons for Fostering Local Climate Policy,” 产测听, Research Associate, Environmental Policy Research Center, Freie Universit盲t Berlin.
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“Cities and Climate Governance: From Experimental Initiatives to Reshaping Urban Development,” 产测听, Professor, School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa.
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City Perspectives: Practitioners鈥 Insights

, Councillor for Capital Ward and Chair of Environment Committee, City of Ottawa.
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, Department of environment and climate protection, Osnabr眉ck.
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, 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,” 产测听, 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?” 产测听, 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, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, 杏吧原创 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,”听产测听, 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鈥檚 Electricity System,” byDaniel Rosenbloom, Doctoral Candidate, School of Public Policy and Administration, 杏吧原创 University.
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“Vulnerable Households and Distributed Renewable Electricity in Ontario:听 Emerging Challenges and Opportunities,”听by, Professor, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo.
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“The Politics of Renewable Energy and Ambitious Policies: Comparing Ontario, California & Texas,” by, Assistant Professor, The University of California, Santa Barbara.
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