Federation of Canadian Municipalities to Accept New Capital Project Applications December 1
July 28, 2011
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Green Municipal Fund has announced that it will begin accepting new applications for capital projects in the energy, transportation, waste and water sectors, as well as for plans, feasibility studies and field tests, on December 1, 2011.
The Green Municipal Fund has been an important player assisting Canadian municipalities in responding to climate change, funding innovative projects across the country. You can read case studies here.
The FCM writes:
Our goal is to fund the very best examples of leadership and innovation in municipal sustainable development that will result in significant environmental impact and that can be replicated in other communities.
The press release also notes that the FCM is still evaluating the Green Municipal Funding program, with updated expected in the fall.
Travis Allan to speak at Inter-American Development Bank on Climate Finance
July 21, 2011
Travis will be speaking this Monday July 25 at the International Development Bank with Lara Gabriele, of Cleantech Law Partners . 
Travis and Laura Zizzo Co-Chair Cleantech Law Partners Canadian Group.
Travis will be discussing voluntary carbon finance with a focus on international development in the Americas.
WCI Releases Draft Offset Protocol Review Process
July 14, 2011
The Western Climate Initiative (WCI), the North American organization of provinces and states trying to create a sub-national cap and trade system, just released its draft offset protocol review process, laying out how it will handle proposed offset protocols. This will be relevant when people want to get offset protocols (the rules for creating particular types of carbon credits that are awarded outside of capped facilities) approved for use within the WCI members’ cap and trade markets.
The WCI members hope that their process will be “fair, efficient and will lead to high-quality offset credits that can be exchangeable across the region.” Note, however, that each member jurisdiction will still have to approve the offset protocols for use in its own system.
The text of the process can be found here.
Quebec: Moving Forward with Cap-and-Trade
July 8, 2011
The Province of Quebec looks set to move forward with a one-year trial period for a hard cap-and-trade system affecting major industrial greenhouse gas emissions. This process is part of Quebec’s broader participation in the Western Climate Initiative, of which BC, Ontario and Manitoba are also members.
From the Montreal Gazette:
Quebec will be a pioneer in North America, along with British Columbia and California, when the province brings in its own cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions next year, Quebec Environment Minister Pierre Arcand announced Wednesday.
As of Jan. 1, 2013, industrial sites in Quebec that emit more than 25,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year will be subject to a limit on emissions, a “cap.” Targeted are about 100 different companies or plants – aluminum and cement producers, for example – which together are responsible for 88 per cent of Quebec’s industrial emissions. And in 2015, businesses that import or distribute oil or fuels sold in Quebec for use in the transportation or building sectors will also be capped.
A draft bill proposing rules for the system will be the subject of public hearings for the next 60 days, and the government intends to pass the bill, with possible amendments, by the end of this year.
Successful implementation in Quebec could have a meaningful effect on other partner jurisdictions who have delayed implementation of their systems.
New Green Marketing Post for Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation
July 5, 2011
While consumers want to know about environmental features, it is important for companies to make sure that all marketing claims (including green claims) are truthful, clear and supported by sufficient evidence. This includes claims like “green”, “eco-friendly” and also eco-labels.
Travis Allan gives tips on making good green marketing claims in a recent post for the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation blog. Check out the post and the Ministry’s fantastic blog here.
