Mark Kenneth Jaccard is a distinguished Canadian energy economist and author, renowned for his expertise in sustainability policies related to energy and materials. Since 1986, he has been a professor at Simon Fraser University in the School of Resource and Environmental Management, where he teaches courses on environment and resource economics, sustainable energy, and economic modeling. His research is pivotal in developing energy-economy-emissions models that assess the impacts of sustainable energy policies, contributing significantly to over 100 academic publications.
Jaccard’s leadership extends beyond academia; he served as Chair and CEO of the British Columbia Utilities Commission from 1992 to 1997, where he influenced energy policy at a provincial level. His international contributions include roles on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, where he co-chaired a task force on sustainable coal use. His work on the Global Energy Assessment further solidified his reputation as a leading voice in energy policy.
In recognition of his impactful work, Jaccard has received numerous accolades, including the Donner Prize for his book “Sustainable Fossil Fuels” and being named Academic of the Year in 2008. He was also honored as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2009, highlighting his lifetime contributions to research and education in sustainability.
Currently, Jaccard leads the Energy and Materials Research Group at Simon Fraser University, which is recognized as Canada’s premier applied academic modeling team. His commitment to sustainability education is evident as he continues to advise political leaders and engage with the public through various media platforms, ensuring that his research informs critical climate policy discussions.
