
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.
Related Posts
Report: Canadian Businesses are Unprepared for Climate Change
Canadian Government Spending on Dirty Projects
The Farce of Canada’s Carbon Capture
Canada’s GHG Rankings
Canada’s Ruling Conservatives Muzzle Scientists
Conservative Budget Guts the Environment
Conservatives Cut Budgets and Slash Jobs at Environment Canada
Canadian Conservatives Slash Environmental Assessment
Canadian Conservatives Slash NRC Budget
Canada on Track to be a Dirty Energy Superpower
Canadian Federal Provincial Energy Conference on Resource Exploitation
Federal Provincial Energy Conference Sponsored by Big Oil
American Protests Against the Tar Sands Oil Pipeline
Canadian Conservatives Dirty Priorities
Canadian Conservatives Disregard for Canada’s Environment
Canada is a World Leader in GHG Emissions
WWF’s Canadian Living Planet Report
The State of Canada’s Environment
Video: The Alberta Tar Sands Dirty Oil
Canadian Global Warming Denial from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy
Canadians Support Efforts to Combat Climate Change
Canadian Government at Odds with the Public on Climate Change
Conservatives Ignore Canadians While Jeopardizing the Environment and the Economy
Canadian Conservative Government Rejects Kyoto
Canada’s Government Opposes Kyoto and Hampers Progress at COP16
World Urges Canada to Do More to Manage Climate Change
Why Canadian Environment Minister Resigned
The Impact of a Climate Change Deal on Canada
A Made in Canada Sustainable World Order