Energy policy is central to the relationship between environmental sustainability and economic prosperity in Ontario, Canada, and around the world.  That’s why we’ve taken a leadership role in the field, highlighted by the work of Mark Winfield, a professor at the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC). He is also Co-Chair of the Faculty’s Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI), co-ordinator of the Master of Environmental Studies (MES) program at EUC, and the Joint Master of Environmental Studies/Juris Doctor program offered in conjunction with Osgoode Hall Law School. 

The challenges of climate change and the need to support sustainable energy, economies and communities inspired the Faculty to establish the SEI. The initiative builds and strengthens research, education and skills for students and professionals in energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy sources and community energy planning. 

Here are some highlights of the SEI: 

• Provides research and analysis to advance policies, projects and practices that encourage and support a transition to a sustainable energy economy and resilient communities; 

• Supports undergraduate and graduate student teaching and research, including the new EUC Certificate program in Climate Solutions and Sustainable Energy, to educate and train the new cohort of sustainable energy entrepreneurs, social innovators, policy-makers and community activists; 
• Builds and strengthens partnerships among educational institutions, government agencies, business and industry, and non-governmental organizations through research, knowledge mobilization and field experiences; and 
• Provides learning opportunities for professionals to enhance their knowledge of leading-edge research and practices related to sustainable energy solutions. 

Professor Winfield has published leading works in the field and has directed or co-directed/co-investigated major research projects dealing with governance models for energy efficiency and community energy planning, and policy frameworks around energy storage, smart grids and the decarbonization of transportation systems. 

The Community Energy Knowledge and Action Partnership (CEKAP), for which Professor Winfield was a co-investigator, was designed to strengthen collaboration between researchers, practitioners and community groups across Canada in the area of community energy planning (CEP). The core partners include five universities and seven municipalities across three Canadian provinces, QUEST Canada and several governmental, non-government and community organizations. 

Major outputs from CEKAP include research reports and a special edition of the Canadian Planning and Policy Journal, featuring contributions from CEKAP researchers such as Winfield and students affiliated with the project. He has also led the development and delivery of a professional development course on CEP for planners in conjunction with QUEST Canada. 

Winfield’s current research examines the emergence of populist challenges to low-carbon sustainable energy transitions in Canada, the United States and the European Union, and potential responses to these movements.