| Founded | 1985, Drayton Valley, AB, Canada |
|---|---|
| Area served | Canada |
| Focus | Sustainable Energy, Climate Change, Oil Sands |
| Method | Research, Education, Consulting, Advocacy |
| Website | www.pembina.org |
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.[1]
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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 change, and provides for a safe and just global community.
Mission: To advance sustainable energy solutions through innovative research, education, consulting and advocacy.[2]
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 power[3] and fossil fuels (coal power[4] and petroleum[5]), and large scale hydroelectricity, favouring energy efficiency, conservation measures and renewable energy such as solar and wind power[6]).[7]
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. [7]
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. [8]
Patrick Moore has criticised the Pembina Institute for suggesting the carbon emission reduction benefits of nuclear technology were being exaggerated by the nuclear industry[8] and has also stated that some of the Pembina Institute's concerns about nuclear power are "baseless".[9]
Renewable is doable plan is a WWF-Canada and the Pembina Institute initiative.[10]