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rjcsmith.bsky.social
Rick Smith
@rjcsmith.bsky.social
1.7K followers 750 following 80 posts
President, Canadian Climate Institute/ président de l'Institut climatique du Canada
@climateinstitute.bsky.social
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rjcsmith.bsky.social
Rick Smith @rjcsmith.bsky.social · Nov 21
ICYMI: new from @gmbutts.bsky.social, Peter Nicholson, and myself: "Our policy advice is pretty simple: Clean up electricity and electrify everything possible. This is the nation-building project Canada needs."
Reposted by Rick Smith
carbonbrief.org
NEW – Analysis: UK renewables enjoy record year in 2025 – but gas power still rises

✍️ by @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org and Ho Woo Nam

Read here ➡️ buff.ly/YTa31NF
January 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Rick Smith
robinwhitlock66.bsky.social
"The biggest shake-up of green trade rules for decades comes into force today, as companies selling steel, cement and other high-carbon goods into the EU will have to prove they comply with low-carbon regulations or face fines."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
EU’s new ‘green tariff’ rules on high-carbon goods come into force
The ‘border adjustment mechanism’ aims to create a level playing field while also encouraging decarbonisation
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:05 AM
rjcsmith.bsky.social
Huge congrats to all these fantastic Canadians but in particular my hard-working friend @ziyatong.bsky.social ! So well deserved! www.gg.ca/en/appointme...
Order of Canada Appointees – December 31, 2025
Companions The Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella, C.C. Toronto, Ontario
www.gg.ca
December 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
petergleick.bsky.social
I wrote a book about the problems with bottled water ("Bottled and Sold") several years ago. Here's just another reason to avoid it.
www.wired.com/story/people...
People Who Drink Bottled Water on a Daily Basis Ingest 90,000 More Microplastic Particles Each Year
Drinking water in plastic bottles contains countless particles too small to see. New research finds that people who drink water from them on a daily basis ingest far more microplastics than those who ...
www.wired.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
The past year was a whirlwind when it came to climate policy.

Read @rjcsmith.bsky.social's year-end wrap up and look-ahead to 2026.👇

"The problems we face are urgent, but the solutions are right in front of us."
corporateknights.com/perspectives...
2025 was defined by uncertainty on climate policy in Canada that needs quick resolution | Corporate Knights
OPINION | There were some wins but when it comes to concrete actions to protect people and communities across Canada, much is left wanting
corporateknights.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
“If you look at the list of trading partners of Canada outside of the U.S., almost all of them have national taxonomies, either fully developed or developing. So, it becomes a question of market access and access to capital in the energy transition." 👇
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Ottawa names expert coalition to roll out stalled green investing guide
Canadian Climate Institute to lead development of climate-focused investing taxonomy along with investor-led organization Business Future Pathways
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
The Canadian Climate Institute is honoured to be selected to develop made-in-Canada sustainable investment guidelines, working with Business Future Pathways, to help mobilize private capital and make Canada more competitive in the global energy transition. ⬇️ climateinstitute.ca/news/develop...
Developing Canada’s Sustainable Investment Guidelines - Canadian Climate Institute
BACKGROUNDER Overview In December 2025, the federal government announced two years of seed funding to develop Canada’s sustainable investment guidelines, commonly referred to as a sustainable finance ...
climateinstitute.ca
December 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
Canada’s finalized methane regulations for the oil and gas sector are a cost-effective policy win that’s long overdue. Read our full statement ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/news/canadas...
Canada’s new oil and gas methane rules are a cost-effective policy win that’s long overdue - Canadian Climate Institute
Reducing methane in the oil and gas sector is one of the cheapest ways to cut emissions and supports Canadian companies leading the charge.
climateinstitute.ca
December 16, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
greatlakespecktwo.bsky.social
This is incredible (good news too): “After a 40% fall in 2024 in battery equipment costs, it’s clear we’re on track for another major fall in 2025…The economics for batteries are unrecognizable, & the industry is only just getting to grips with this new paradigm”
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/12/b...
Batteries now cheap enough to make dispatchable solar economically feasible
Energy think tank Ember says utility-scale battery costs have fallen to $65/MWh outside China and the United States, enabling solar power to be delivered when needed.
www.pv-magazine.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
janrosenow.bsky.social
Those tree hugging hippies in Hungary now lead the world in the share of electricity generated from solar with almost 25% of their electricity coming from solar in 2024.

A remarkable leap from just 7% five years ago.
December 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
Grid-scale battery storage is expected to attract US$66 billion of investment this year. Here’s how Canada can leverage batteries to cut costs and improve the grid.
climateinstitute.ca/grid-scale-b...
Grid-scale batteries improve reliability and cut costs, but Canada has been slow to respond
Let’s dig into some of the factors driving the battery boom, and how Canada can use them to its advantage.
climateinstitute.ca
December 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
📢 The European Union just finalized its legally binding target to cut climate pollution 90% by 2040 from 1990 levels.📉⬇️
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
EU strikes deal on climate target to cut emissions by 90% by 2040
The European Union agreed on Wednesday to set a legally binding climate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040, and buy foreign carbon credits to cover 5% of the emi...
www.reuters.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
A new report on Canadian LNG and oil exports rests on highly questionable assumptions about the global emissions impacts of these fuels and lacks transparency on the modelling inputs used. Here’s a brief explainer 🧵⬇️
ppforum.ca/publications...
Refuel - Public Policy Forum
In partnership with the Canadian Chamber Future of Business Centre Executive Summary Would expanding Canadian exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), heavy and light oil raise or lower global greenhou...
ppforum.ca
December 9, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
janrosenow.bsky.social
The shift to EVs is happening—fast. Manufacturers can either embrace the long-term transition or chase short-term gains by clinging to petrol and diesel.

China is choosing the long view. Many in Europe aren’t. The risk? Ending up with cars no one wants, lost market share, and shuttered factories.
December 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
robdickinson.bsky.social
If anyone cares at all, EV battery recycling is now hitting 99% recovery for important metals

Please remind me again what the recycle rate for fossil fuels is

interestingengineering.com/energy/recyc...
New recycling tech recovers nearly pure nickel and cobalt from old EV batteries
Researchers have developed an eco-friendly recycling tech that extracts 99 percent pure nickel and cobalt from waste batteries.
interestingengineering.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 AM
rjcsmith.bsky.social
Unpleasant news to end the week ...
December 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
rjcsmith.bsky.social
And so begins my least favourite time of year in Canada: the “sitting on tarmac waiting for weather to clear” season
December 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
Le protocole d’entente conclu aujourd’hui entre le gouvernement fédéral et l’Alberta risque de mettre en péril la politique climatique du Canada. Lisez notre déclaration complète ⬇️
institutclimatique.ca/news/protoco...
Le protocole d’accord fédéral–Alberta risque de faire dérailler la politique climatique du Canada
Bien que les améliorations promises à la tarification du carbone industriel soient positives et importantes, d’autres aspects du protocole d’accord Alberta–Canada nuiront à l’efficacité des politiques...
institutclimatique.ca
November 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
rjcsmith.bsky.social
At a time when Canadian climate change policy needs more certainty, today's MOU between the federal and Alberta governments achieves the opposite. Reaction from @climateinstitute.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 11:27 PM
rjcsmith.bsky.social
@stevenguilbeault.bsky.social is an exemplary public servant. He's dedicated his long career to wrestling with some of our country's toughest issues: How do we reconcile environmental protection and economic growth?
November 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
The CleanBC review offers a realistic path for the province to strengthen its economy, cut emissions, and keep costs low for British Columbians.

Read our full statement ⬇️
climateinstitute.ca/news/review-...
Review of CleanBC provides realistic path to strengthen economy, cut emissions
Swiftly acting on review recommendations will help B.C. electrify the economy while keeping costs low for British Columbians.
climateinstitute.ca
November 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
The @iea.org report shows the world is moving away from fossil fuels as clean energy continues to skyrocket. Canada should take note and move away from Trump’s fossil fuel obsession. Read more from @gmbutts.bsky.social, Peter Nicholson & @rjcsmith.bsky.social
climateinstitute.ca/global-shift...
In a global shift to renewables, Canada can't follow Trump's fossil fuel obsession
Renewable power will expand to deliver more than half of the electricity generated worldwide in the next decade, up from about one ...
climateinstitute.ca
November 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
Canada’s Clean Electricity Regulations are a surefire way to ensure a clean power grid. Without them, Canada risks losing a competitive edge that will bolster the economy, not to mention erasing years of progress. Read more from expert @sachigibson.bsky.social ➡️
climateinstitute.ca/clean-electr...
Clean Electricity Regulations bolster certainty for big investments in Canada’s grids
The federal government of Canada reaffirmed the place of its Clean Electricity Regulations within its Climate Competitiveness Strategy.
climateinstitute.ca
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
cathmckenna.bsky.social
“Historians will look back on US raising the white flag on the energy transition as a catastrophic error, putting North America at risk of becoming an island of fossil fuels in an electrifying world. 

Canada should take note & choose a better path.”

💯 Life is about choices. Let’s choose to win.
November 20, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by Rick Smith
climateinstitute.bsky.social
Good climate change policy is a benefit to the economy. Hear more from @rjcsmith.bsky.social and @juliedabrusin.bsky.social at #COP30 🔽
November 21, 2025 at 3:51 PM