The federal government is out of step with leading thinkers on issues related to sustainability, energy and climate change, according to the results of a groundbreaking survey of more than 5,000 experts and government officials.

Cherise Burda says Canada is taking an "America Lite" approach with the announcement of new federal vehicle emissions regulations. While Canada's regulations match the U.S. requirements for passenger vehiclees, Canada is not matching the level of federal support that the Obama administration has announced for public transit and vehicle efficiency.

Pembina's analysis shows the U.S. is set to outspend Canada nearly 18:1 per capita on renewables, and more than 8:1 per capita overall on sustainable energy programs and projects in 2010.

The 2010 federal budget could hardly do less on renewable energy and climate change issues, said Tim Weis, Director of the Pembina Institute's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program.

A policy expert from the Pembina Institute will be available for comment and analysis following the release of the federal budget on March 4.

Matthew Bramley, Director of the Pembina Institute's Climate Change Program, said today's federal Throne Speech fails to clearly signal an improvement in the government's poor track record on climate change and investment in the clean energy economy.

In a joint statement released today, a unique partnership of industry and environmental organizations have outlined the key elements for an effective Canadian cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions.

Tim Weis, Director of the Pembina Institute’s renewable energy and efficiency program, reacted to Michael Ignatieff’s speech today in Vancouver, saying the Liberal leader's committments to make significant investments in clean energy jobs and set a hard cap on carbon emissions are encouraging, but more details about targets and mechanisms are needed to make the plan workable.

Royal Dutch Shell has abandoned its written agreements to significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution at its Jackpine Mine and Muskeg River Mine Expansion oil sands projects.

In an echo of Barack Obama’s dramatic green jobs surge, leading Canadian civil society groups with a combined membership of over 850,000 people are calling for a massive Green Economy Action Fund to be part of January’s federal budget.

Environment groups and the energy efficiency industry are calling on provincial, territorial and federal energy ministers to begin a massive scale up of energy efficiency measures which could meet energy demands and make cuts in Canada's GHG emissions.

A coalition of national environmental organizations and the former Chair of Parliament's environment committee today filed a petition with the Auditor General of Canada demanding an investigation into billions of dollars of federal subsidies to the oil and gas industry.