National network of researchers assesses Canada’s energy future
![](https://www.mcgill.ca/desautels/files/desautels/styles/fullwidth_breakpoints_theme_moriarty_small_1x/public/dror-etzion-400-2.jpg?itok=OIdP9M6a×tamp=1479315984)
A new report co-authored by 71 researchers from across Canada, including Professor Dror Etzion of Desautels, examines how Canada could transition to low-carbon energy systems, while remaining globally competitive.
The independent paper, written at the invitation of Natural Resources Canada and entitled, Re-Energizing Canada: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Future, provides independent academic input to Generation Energy, a national dialogue on Canada’s path to a low-carbon future launched by Natural Resources Canada on April 21, 2017.
According to the scholars, Canada should shift from being an oil producing country to become a low carbon energy leader. They argue that Canada can accelerate the move toward a low-carbon economy by reducing overall energy demand through energy efficiency and conservation, increasing electrification and switching to low-carbon-emitting sources of electricity and progressively replacing high-carbon petroleum-based fuels with low-carbon ones.
“With its uniquely vast endowment of renewable energy resources, Canada can seize the global low-carbon energy transition as an opportunity to build a major new economic engine for the country,” according to the volunteer network of scientists, engineers and social scientists who compiled the 60-page paper.
The report also underscores the importance that science and research must play in informing the public policy debate on Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The study constitutes an important contribution to the range of views and opinions on how Canada can create the affordable energy and innovative jobs that Canadians want.
Feedback
For more information or if you would like to report an error, please web.desautels [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Website%20News%20Comments) (contact us).