Our People
Philip Gass
Lead, Transitions
Philip Gass is Lead, Transitions in the IISD Energy program. His recent work has focused on development of fiscal policy approaches that facilitate GHG mitigation including carbon pricing and subsidy reform.
Phil also works directly on economic models that promote sustainability including the green economy, circular economy, and just transitions. In Indonesia he has focused on strategies to shift from coal to renewable energy and in Canada his recent work has included efforts to encourage producer and consumer fossil fuel subsidy reform. He has a background in political economy and stakeholder engagement, having worked in a legislative setting in Canada prior to joining IISD.
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Green Strings: Principles and conditions for a green recovery from COVID-19 in CanadaEndorsed by Canada's leading environmental groups, this paper sets out seven "green strings" recommendations: key principles, criteria and conditionalities to apply to government measures to ensure a green recovery from COVID-19. -
We May Be in Uncharted Waters, But We Aren’t Lost at SeaWhen the financial crisis of 2008 hit, governments around the world began structuring stimulus plans. We can learn a lot by looking back at how effective these turned out to be. -
Canada's Federal Fossil Fuel Subsidies in 2020Federal fossil fuel subsidies in Canada reached at least CAD 600 million in 2019, but more transparency is needed from government to understand the full picture. -
Current Status of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement: Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs)This commentary highlights the current status of negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement heading into COP 25. -
Locked In and Losing Out: British Columbia’s fossil fuel subsidiesBritish Columbia's fossil fuel subsidies reached CAD 830 million in 2017–2018, and new subsidies continue to be introduced. This report identifies provincial subsidies and calls on the province to undertake subsidy reform. -
Sustainable Watersheds for Carbon Offsets: Biomass harvesting for phosphorus capture, habitat renewal and carbon emissions reductions We have been exploring new and innovative practices to reduce flood impacts and nutrient loading, as well as to reduce carbon emissions, in the Lake Winnipeg watershed through better water retention management, and the harvest and use of sustainable wetland biomass. -
Indonesians Are Demanding Climate Action — How can the government answer their calls?Thousands of people, youth especially, are calling for Indonesia and countries around the world to live up to their commitments on climate change. -
Getting to 23 Per Cent: Strategies to scale up renewables in IndonesiaThis report addresses seven concrete ways in which the Indonesian government can overcome the existing obstacles and make significant progress to grow renewable energy before 2025. -
Tackling Coal-Driven Air Pollution in China and India: Lessons learned for Indonesia Although air pollution in China and India is currently heavier than in Indonesia, these two countries have been giving more attention to tackling it. Given Indonesia’s very large coal growth projections and current level of air pollution, lessons can be learned from both China and India when it comes to addressing air pollution. -
The (Public) Cost of Pollution: Ontario's fossil fuel subsidiesThis report provides an inventory of fossil fuel subsidies in Ontario and provides recommendations for provincial subsidy reform. -
Raising Ambition Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Greenhouse gas emissions results modelling from 26 countriesThis working paper models 26 countries and finds national average emission reductions of 6 per cent from the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. For every tonne of CO2e removed through FFSR, governments save an average of USD 93. Global emission reductions from reforms are between 6.4 and 8.2 per cent by 2050. Countries can consider the carbon reduction co-benefits from FFSR and taxation within second-generation Nationally Determined Contributions. -
How Will the Circular Economy Impact Jobs?New research digs into some of the possible job impacts if a country like Finland fully embraces a circular economy model. -
In Search of Just Transition: Examples From Around the WorldWhat is a just transition? Essentially, it’s a balancing act. -
Emission Omissions: Carbon accounting gaps in the built environmentLife-cycle assessment (LCA) studies are the best tool we have to measure the carbon footprints of building products at each phase of their lifespan, but they have some flaws. -
Good COP, Bad COP: Reflections from a climate change conferenceStresses and worries after the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 24) in Katowice, Poland, comes to an end... but hope, too. -
Real People, Real Change: Strategies for just energy transitionsThis report aims to support governments in their endeavour to make energy transitions just, building on research and case studies in Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, India, Poland and Ukraine. -
The End of Coal? What to Watch for at the Upcoming UN Climate Conference (COP24)While COP24 was always intended to be a "technical" conference—with parties focused on finalizing the details required to operationalize the Paris Agreement—there is potential for a strong political element to the discussion. -
Public Cash for Oil and Gas: Mapping federal fiscal support for fossil fuelsThis report examines the inventory of federal fossil fuel subsidies in Canada -
Economic Instruments to Leverage Clean Energy Investment There is widespread recognition that the bulk of the investment needed to meet the Paris... -
New poll shows Canadians want to end public subsidies for oil and gas companiesNew polling shows that Canadians are strongly opposed to federal and provincial governments using public dollars to subsidize oil and gas companies. -
Carbon Pricing: Busting four major mythsWe break down four common myths about renewable energy and carbon pricing. Feel free to use these facts next time someone tells you that coal is the future or that carbon pricing is just a hoax invented to increase your taxes. -
Les subventions du gouvernement à la consommation et au développement d'hydrocarbures au QuébecDe 2011-12 à 2016-17, le gouvernement du Québec a ainsi versé en moyenne 300 millions de dollars par année en allègement à la taxe sur les carburants, des mesures qui vont à l’encontre d’une diminution de la consommation d’hydrocarbures. -
Missing the 23 Per Cent Target: Roadblocks to the development of renewable energy in IndonesiaThis report seeks to answer the question of why renewable energy deployment, particularly wind and solar, has not taken off in Indonesia. To understand the forces shaping the sector, and what can be done to remedy the situation, IISD conducted interviews with politicians, civil servants, industry representatives, renewable energy developers, civil society organizations, international donors and other stakeholders. A total of 26 interviews took place, revealing the roots of the problem, the broader political economy of the energy sector and some possible ways forward. -
Indonesia Energy Subsidy News Briefing January 2018This update provides a look at State Budgets from 2017 and 2018, as well as an assessment of liquefied petroleum gas, coal, transport fuels and electricity subsidies. A list of recent GSI reports and commentaries is also included. -
Looking Back on the “Caterpillar COP”Was COP 23 really the 'Caterpillar COP'? Phil Gass and Frédéric Gagnon-Lebrun take look back, and remind us that caterpillars are ultimately destined to emerge as butterflies... -
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and the Just Transition: Integrating approaches for complementary outcomesThis paper goes into detail about the various ways in which FFSR can be consistent with just transition. The scale of current fossil fuel subsidies in the world coupled with the massive financial needs for transition are early indicators of the benefits of approaching FFSR with just transition in mind. -
Cities and Smart Grids in CanadaThis report looks specifically at smart grids within the context of grid modernization and urban settings in Canada. -
North American Energy Integration: Assessing oil and gas policy issues ahead of NAFTA renegotiationMexico, Canada and the United States stand to benefit from increasing energy sector interconnectedness and coordination. What key environmental and fiscal policy areas related to oil and gas development provide opportunities for further harmonization? -
Financial Supports for Coal and Renewables in IndonesiaThis report shows that the “true cost” of coal, including subsidies and externalities such as GHG emissions and air pollution, is considerably greater than the cost of renewable energy in Indonesia. -
How to Respond When Prices Go Up: Objectives and options for fuel price adjustments in IndonesiaThere are options to strengthen the fuel pricing mechanism in Indonesia. This policy brief highlights some options, including price smoothing, ratcheting and installation of price floors and caps, closing with recommendations. -
Making the Switch: From fossil fuel subsidies to sustainable energyThis report estimates fossil fuel subsidies to be around USD 425 billion. Such subsidies represent large lost opportunities for governments to invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable development. -
Costing Energy and Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Nunavut: A mapping exerciseThis report, entitled Costing Energy and Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Nunavut, was commissioned by World Wildlife Fund Canada and undertaken by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. -
Reactions to Canada's Climate Change Framework: ElectricityIn the second of a series of blog posts on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Phil Gass explores what the framework will mean for the electricity sector. -
As Wind Power Expands in China—What's Been Learned? Over the past decade, wind power has taken off in China. We explore the challenges China has faced linked this rapid growth. -
Wind Power in China: A cautionary taleThis reports looks at some of the challenges that China has faced in expanding wind power. It identifies the ways that the government has sought to address these challenges and offers recommendations to support expanded wind power in China and elsewhere. -
Unpacking Canada's Fossil Fuel Subsidies Oil, gas and coal are multi-billion-dollar industries, and every year fossil fuel companies get billions in tax breaks and handouts that increase their profits even further. This website was created to cut through the jargon, so you can understand what’s really happening, debate it, and propose solutions for Canadians and Canada’s economy. -
Stories of Coal Phase-Out: Lessons learned for ChinaThis report offers a summary of several countries’ experiences implementing energy policy shifts in an area of particular interest to China: the transition away from coal to cleaner fuels and a low-carbon economy. -
Meeting Canada's Subsidy Phase-Out Goal: What it means in SaskatchewanThis commentary takes a very preliminary look at consumer fossil fuel subsidies in Saskatchewan. Our initial research identifies roughly CAD 182 million in 2015 in the form of financial supports for the consumption of fossil fuels. -
Meeting Canada's Subsidy Phase-Out Goal: What it means in OntarioIISD examines some of the fossil fuel subsidies in place in Ontario, how the government is responding to them and where more can be done. -
Supporting Energy Pricing Reform and Carbon Pricing Policies Through CreditingThis study examines the role that policy crediting might play in increasing the mitigation impact of energy pricing reform and carbon pricing policies. -
Fiscal Instruments in INDCs: How countries are looking to fiscal policies to support INDC implementationCountries are increasingly turning to the use of fiscal instruments to support low-carbon development and efforts to reduce emissions. -
Canadian Climate Change Policy: Lessons from the provincesAt the tail end of November, Canada’s newly-elected Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, will attend... -
North American Climate and Energy Policy—The Case for Better CoherenceCanada is at a crossroads. A newly elected government has committed to do more than its predecessor to address climate change. -
Fossil fuel subsidy reform in Canada: A post-partisan issueAlmost unnoticed in Canada’s federal election campaign is the fact that all national political... -
Fossil fuel subsidy reform – turning the tide?The recent announcement from UAE that it will reform domestic fossil fuel subsidies is the latest in a growing number of countries taking the opportunity to reform subsidies within the energy sector.
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Towards a Low Carbon, Climate Resilient Ontario: IISD input to MOECC’s Climate Change Discussion PaperThe Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change released its Ontario Climate Change... -
Cattail Biomass in a Watershed-Based Bioeconomy: Commercial-scale harvesting and processing for nutrient capture, biocarbon and high-value bioproductsOne of the fundamental insights of the Watershed-Bioeconomy research is that phosphorus, the... -
The United States and China’s New Climate Change Commitments: Elements, implications and reactionsOn November 11, 2014 the United States and China announced a bilateral agreement to cooperate on... -
A Climate Gift or a Lump of Coal? The emission impacts of Canadian and U.S. greenhouse gas regulations in the electricity sectorOn June 2, 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed... -
Regulating Carbon Emissions in Canada: Climate Policy Year in Review and Trends, 2013Dave Sawyer and Philip Gass have developed this piece as a year in review and a look forward to... -
Cattails Harvesting for Carbon Offsets and Nutrient Capture: A "Lake Friendly" greenhouse gas projectThe Cattail Biomass Harvesting project is pursuing and evaluating the commercial-scale harvesting... -
Cattail (Typha spp.) Harvesting in Manitoba: A legislative and market analysis for operationalization and carbon emission offsetsResearch findings from the Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy project are encouraging replication of... -
Obama's Climate Change Strategy: Details, response and implications for CanadaIn June 2013 President Obama announced his administration's plan for dealing with the issue of... -
Ontario Moving in the Right Direction on Climate Policy: IISD input on climate policy design to the Ministry of the Environment A proposed move by Ontario to establish elements of a carbon pricing system is a major step... -
Canadian Carbon Policy Year in Review and Emerging Trends, 2012Carbon policy in Canada went through an important transition in 2012.The federal government began... -
Regulating Carbon in Canada Divergent Approaches: Greenhouse gas mitigation in Canada and AustraliaWith the release of Lessons for Canada: Implementation of Australia's Carbon Pricing Mechanism,... -
IISD Submission to the British Columbia Carbon Tax ReviewBritish Columbia has undertaken a review of its current carbon tax structure.IISD offered this... -
Peering over the Ledge and Stepping Back (Again): The Bonn Climate Change Conference May 2012While the COP 17 outcomes did provide some clarity as to what Parties were striving to develop in... -
Africa Transformation-Ready: The strategic application of information and communication technologies to climate change adaptation in Africa Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have had an increasing impact on economic and... -
Analysis and Review of Canadian Think Tank Climate Change and Energy Reports for the Banff DialogueThis paper, prepared by IISD for the Banff Dialogue on a Canadian National Clean Energy Strategy,... -
Canada's Role in the Global Energy Picture: Making the case for a more coherent national energy approachThis paper, prepared by IISD for the Banff Dialogue on a Canadian National Clean Energy Strategy,... -
Energy: The global picture and its implications for Canada's role in going forwardThis paper, prepared by IISD for the Banff Dialogue on a Canadian National Clean Energy Strategy,... -
Manitoba Adaptation Day: Understanding Manitoba-focused Adaptation Activities, Research and Capacity – Workshop ReportIISD Climate and Energy team members planned and facilitated a workshop intended to bring... -
Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations: Outcomes of the Bonn Climate Change TalksThis paper provides an overview of the status of the international climate change negotiations,... -
Financing for Developing CountriesThis background paper describes the role and profile of climate change financing for developing... -
Environmental Policies under an Obama Administration: Is Change in the Air?The day after Barack Obama's November 4, 2008, election victory, EM asked leaders within the Air ...
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