The Canadian government needs to do a better job disseminating climate change information to companies. Governments also need to be more mindful of how
critical infrastructure will be affected by climate change, and make this
information available to firms. This is the conclusion of a report from the
National Round Table. The report also says that governments need to anticipate
climate-related market failures and be ready to step in when
necessary.
As reported on Global
News, officials for Environment Minister Peter Kent tried to minimize the
impact of the report saying the round table’s work was readily available
elsewhere. Roundtable president David McLaughlin contradicted these remarks
saying, “this is new and original information that we’re putting
out.” The report includes systematic research with the sophisticated
modeling.
Most experts and even the Office of the Auditor General believe Ottawa is
not on track to meet its 2020 emissions targets. This shortfall is expected to
be clearly quantified in a forthcoming report by the Roundtable.
For its part the ruling Conservative government just want the Roundtable to go
away. The most recent federal budget announced that the Roundtable’s
funding will be taken away at the end of the year.
The government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly shown their contempt for environmental oversight. Given the Roundtable’s role assessing the environment’s effects on the
economy, it should come as no surprise that the Tories want to eliminate the advisory
and research group.
However, until its funding runs out McLaughlin says he will continue to issue reports as usual, detailing how climate change is affecting the economy, and
what governments and business should do about it.
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights
reserved.
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