Andrew Leach

Early life

Andrew Leach was born and raised in Canada. Not much is publicly known about his birth and early personal life.

After completing his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Environmental Sciences and his M.A. (Economics) from the University of Guelph, he earned his Ph.D. in economics from Queen’s University.

Outside of his business life, he is the proud father of two kids, a recovering cycling addict, a part-time consultant, and a fair-weather runner.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Andrew Leach began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at HEC Montreal for three years. He left there to go to the University of Alberta in 2006 and is currently an Associate Professor in the Alberta School of Business. He teaches courses in energy markets as part of the Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment (#nree) programs.

He is an expert in energy and environmental policy and has written and spoken extensively on the topics of carbon pricing, energy regulation, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. He has also worked as an advisor to the Government of Alberta on energy and climate policy and was appointed as the Chair of Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel in 2018.

He has written extensively on energy and climate policy and has been a frequent commentator on these issues in the media.

His research interest include:

• Environmental Economics
• Resource Economics
• Energy Economics
• Environmental Law
• Climate Change Policy
  And his teaching interests include
• Intermediate microeconomics / competition and strategic behaviour
• Energy Markets
• Environmental Economics
• Environmental Law and Policy

He currently teaches courses on Energy Economics, Seminars on Specialized Legal Topics, and Topics of Public Law 1. These subjects can change with the new terms.

In the 2019 Canadian federal election, Andrew Leach wrote a series of five articles for the CBC between July and October, called “Election 2019: A national reckoning on climate change” in which he compared the climate plans proposed by various parties, including the Green Party led by Elizabeth May, the Conservative Party led by Andrew Scheer, the New Democratic Party led by Jagmeet Singh, and the Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau. He provided a summary of all the plans on October 10th.

In addition to his academic work, Andrew Leach has also been active in public policy. He has served as a member of the Alberta Government’s Climate Change Advisory Panel and as a member of the Government of Canada’s Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance. He has also been a member of the board of directors of the Alberta Electric System Operator and the Canadian Energy Research Institute.

He also participates in a lot of volunteer opportunities, including a position as Treasurer of the Edmonton Juventus Cycling Club from November 2021, Board Member for REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities from July 2020 current, and Board Member of River Valley Alliance from June 2018 to June 2020.

Leach reviews articles posted online by the “pro-energy corporation”, the Calgary-based Canadian Energy Centre, which is funded by the government of Alberta.

In an article published on January 1, 2011, entitled: “Muck and brass: Canada’s tar sands,” The Economist utilized statistics provided by Andrew Leach in a comparison of statements from environmentalists, academics, and representatives from the oil industry, including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). According to CAPP, by 2011, the oil sands were responsible for only 5% of Canada’s CO2 emissions, which represented a mere 0.1% of global emissions. Leach, however, argued that the oil sands “create about C$500 of value-added per tonne of CO2, compared to C$20-30 from coal-fired power stations.”

ResearchGate.net has 24 different publications by Andrew Leach, showcasing his knowledge and research in these specialty areas.

Net Worth

Andrew Leach has a net worth of an estimated $2.92 Million.

Achievement

Andrew Leach has made significant contributions to the field of energy and climate policy. He has published numerous research papers and articles on these topics, and has also written a book, “Carbon Pricing: Design, Experience, and Next Steps.” He is also a regular contributor to the media, providing commentary on energy and climate policy in Canada.

In recognition of his contributions, Andrew Leach has received several awards and honors. He was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2018 and has also been recognized with the Canada Gairdner Foundation Wightman Award for his contributions to public policy.

Leach was Chair of Alberta’s Climate Change Leadership Panel in 2015.