Pembina Institute
Encyclopedia
The Pembina Institute is a Canadian not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions. Founded in 1985, the Institute has offices in Calgary
, Drayton Valley, Edmonton
, Ottawa
, Toronto
, Vancouver
, and Yellowknife.
, and provides for a safe and just global community.
Mission: To advance sustainable energy solutions through innovative research, education, consulting and advocacy.
and fossil fuels (coal power and petroleum
), and large scale hydroelectricity, favouring energy efficiency, conservation measures and renewable energy such as solar
and wind power
).
1. Grants for environmental research and public education (47.7% of revenue)
Grants from charitable and non-charitable organizations are directed to specific energy and environment research and outreach initiatives. For example, with the support of the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation, the Pembina Foundation for Environmental Research and Education contracted the Pembina Institute to undertake a study examining options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the personal transportation sector in Ontario. Pembina also receives donations from individuals seeking to support specific environmental research and public education projects.
2. Fee-for-service contracts delivered to specific clients (41.1% of revenue)
Pembina competes for and delivers fee-for-service contracts for clients from a wide variety of sectors including industry (e.g., oil and gas, financial, renewable energy, real estate), government (municipalities; provincial and federal ministries and departments), First Nations groups and other community and environmental organizations.
3. Other sources of funding
Other sources of funding are event sponsorships, annual donations, wind power referral fees and interest income.
A complete list of funders is available each year in the Pembina Institute's Annual Report.
http://www.pembina.org/pub/1863
has criticised the Pembina Institute for suggesting the carbon emission reduction benefits of nuclear technology were being exaggerated by the nuclear industry and has also stated that some of the Pembina Institute's concerns about nuclear power are "baseless".
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Drayton Valley, Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and Yellowknife.
Vision and Mission
Vision: The Pembina Institute envisions a world in which our immediate and future needs are met in a manner that protects the Earth's living systems; ensures clean air, land and water; prevents dangerous climate changeAvoiding Dangerous Climate Change
The related terms "avoiding dangerous climate change" and "preventing dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system" date to 1995 and earlier, in the Second Assesment Report of the International Panel on Climate Change and previous science it cites.In 2002, the United Nations...
, and provides for a safe and just global community.
Mission: To advance sustainable energy solutions through innovative research, education, consulting and advocacy.
Policies
The Pembina Institute advocates for sustainable energy policy solutions that: take action on global warming, develop a thriving renewable energy sector, minimizes the negative impacts of oil sands and other high-impact energy development and provides smarter urban design and transportation choices for Canadians. At different times, they have advocated against the use of nuclear powerNuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and fossil fuels (coal power and petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
), and large scale hydroelectricity, favouring energy efficiency, conservation measures and renewable energy such as solar
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
and wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
).
Supporters
The Pembina Institute is a non-profit sustainable energy think-tank. The majority of its revenue is project-specific and comes from two main areas: research and public education grants and fee-for-service contracts. Pembina's funding comes from a variety of sources and it does not receive direct core funding (i.e., to cover administration) from any source. http://www.pembina.org/about/revenue1. Grants for environmental research and public education (47.7% of revenue)
Grants from charitable and non-charitable organizations are directed to specific energy and environment research and outreach initiatives. For example, with the support of the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation, the Pembina Foundation for Environmental Research and Education contracted the Pembina Institute to undertake a study examining options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the personal transportation sector in Ontario. Pembina also receives donations from individuals seeking to support specific environmental research and public education projects.
2. Fee-for-service contracts delivered to specific clients (41.1% of revenue)
Pembina competes for and delivers fee-for-service contracts for clients from a wide variety of sectors including industry (e.g., oil and gas, financial, renewable energy, real estate), government (municipalities; provincial and federal ministries and departments), First Nations groups and other community and environmental organizations.
3. Other sources of funding
Other sources of funding are event sponsorships, annual donations, wind power referral fees and interest income.
A complete list of funders is available each year in the Pembina Institute's Annual Report.
http://www.pembina.org/pub/1863
Criticism
Patrick MoorePatrick Moore (environmentalist)
Patrick Moore is a former environmental activist, known as one of the early members of Greenpeace, in which he was an activist from 1971 to 1986...
has criticised the Pembina Institute for suggesting the carbon emission reduction benefits of nuclear technology were being exaggerated by the nuclear industry and has also stated that some of the Pembina Institute's concerns about nuclear power are "baseless".
Renewable is Doable
Renewable is doable plan is a WWF-Canada and the Pembina Institute initiative.See also
- Maisie ShiellMaisie ShiellMaisie Shiell became involved in anti-nuclear issues in 1976 when public concern developed about a new uranium mine in Saskatchewan. At sixty-one years of age, Shiell began learning how to translate highly technical issues about radioactivity into something she could understand and pass along to...
- West Coast Environmental LawWest Coast Environmental LawWest Coast Environmental Law is an environmental law and public advocacy organization based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It believes in a just and sustainable society where citizens are empowered to protect the environment and environmental protection is enshrined in law. It fulfills...
- Environmental Dispute Resolution FundEnvironmental Dispute Resolution FundThe Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund is a legal aid program based in British Columbia, Canada that provides grants to individuals, community groups and environmental organizations who need to hire legal representation to assist them in resolving an environmental problem or dispute...
External links
- Official Website
- Oil Sands Watch
- Green Learning Online
- Renewable is Doable
- A bright energy future without coal or nuclear. (Toronto StarToronto StarThe Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
)