School of Public Policy prof lends expertise on net-zero transitions at G7 conference

The School of Public Policy is pleased to congratulate Dr. Jennifer Winter, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Economics and scientific director, energy and environmental policy, School of Public Policy for speaking as a panellist at the Royal Society of Canada G7 Research Summit 2021.

G7 research summits

Since 2005, the national science academies of the G7 (an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union) have prepared statements for the G7 governments. In 2018, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) began organizing annual G7 Research Summits to amplify the findings and next steps outlined in one or more of the “S7” statements (statements created by the Science Academies of the G7 nations).

On Nov. 17, 2021, on the heels of COP 26, the RSC G7 Research Summit focused on climate change implications, adaptation and mitigation options for Canada, using the S7 statement on Net Zero as the catalyst for discussions.

Winter provided her expertise, along with co-panellists Dr. Kathryn Harrison (UBC) and Dale Beugin (Canadian Institute for Climate Choices), on policy pathways to net zero. The panellists touched on a variety of topics including brief reflections on COP26, choices and trade-offs in climate policy, and the roles of Canada and the rest of the world in the net-zero transition.

“It was an honour to speak at the conference and contribute to a lively discussion on the complex policy issues involved in net zero transitions. The ambition of pledges made at COP26 translates to hard policy work in Canada to implement actions matching our government’s ambition. I’m hopeful discussing my work on carbon pricing and policy design left the audience better informed about the challenges and opportunities inherent in emissions reductions and net-zero goals,” says Winter.