Thursday, May 26, 2022
The Green Market Oracle
  • Climate Change
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Biodiversity
    • Wildfires
    • Extreme Weather
  • Energy
    • Fossil Fuels
    • Renewables
  • Politics
    • American Politics
    • Canadian Politics
    • International Politics
  • Social Change
    • Activism
    • Disinformation
    • Education
    • Psychology
    • Gender Equality
  • Business and Economics
    • Leadership
    • Decarbonization
    • Economics
    • Supply Chains
    • Investing
  • Technology
    • Carbon Removal
    • Carbon Capture
    • Transportation
    • Buildings
    • Food
No Result
View All Result
  • Climate Change
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Biodiversity
    • Wildfires
    • Extreme Weather
  • Energy
    • Fossil Fuels
    • Renewables
  • Politics
    • American Politics
    • Canadian Politics
    • International Politics
  • Social Change
    • Activism
    • Disinformation
    • Education
    • Psychology
    • Gender Equality
  • Business and Economics
    • Leadership
    • Decarbonization
    • Economics
    • Supply Chains
    • Investing
  • Technology
    • Carbon Removal
    • Carbon Capture
    • Transportation
    • Buildings
    • Food
No Result
View All Result
The Green Market Oracle
No Result
View All Result
Home Other

Canada’s New Government and Hopes for Climate Action

by Richard Matthews
October 20, 2015
in Other
0

On October 19th 2015 Canadians rejected the Conservative’s corrupt fossil fuel pipedream and voted for change. The Liberal party of Canada led by Justin Trudeau now has a solid majority in the Canadian parliament and a solid mandate to alter the nation’s direction. A new day has dawned in Canada but to realize the promise of a cleaner future we need to see concrete climate actions.

Canadians have successfully ousted the climate averse Conservatives but now the real work begins. During the debates leading up to the election Trudeau criticized outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative party for having done nothing to address climate change during their 10 years in office. Now, the Liberals must prove that this critique was more than just campaign rhetoric. They must use their mandate to steward a new course and move beyond the 19th century energy obsession of their predecessors.


We can begin to lay out plans for an energy economy that looks to future rather than the past. We can begin to imagine what must be done to support a green economy. We can begin thinking about strategies to erect a clean energy infrastructure.

After a decade of failed climate leadership from the Conservatives, the country has a long way to go to catch up with the world’s cleantech leaders. The Harper government put forth the weakest emissions reduction plans of the G7 and they were failing to meet these commitments.

Rather than being a climate laggard Canada is now free to dream of a future that will benefit both current and future generations. We can return to our rightful place as environmental leaders or we can continue to invest in an energy source that has no future.

To augur a cleaner future we will have to transition away from fossil fuels. However this constitutes a massive challenge and it will require political will and popular support. The Liberals are called to lead and leadership means that they must educate the public, enact bold policies and pass audacious legislation.

The case must be made for policies that help to create a clean energy economy. This means we will need to reduce our carbon pollution and create the right environment for renewables to flourish.

To realize the broad visions of Canadians, the Liberals under the new Prime Minister will need to lay out a strategic vision. While there is a strong case to be made, the new leadership must redress ten years of misinformation.

Canadians concerns about jobs and the economy must be met head on. The promised infrastructure spending must lay down the foundation for a 21st century economy. The new PM must combat Conservative lies and make Canadians aware that the clean energy sector already provides more employment in Canada than the tar sands.

There is a hopeful vision emerging of a government that will support renewable energy and invest in radical efficiency.  Canadians want less fossil fuels and more climate action and the Liberals 184 seat majority, put them in position to show bold leadership.
The environmental, climate and economic rationale justifying the move towards a cleaner future is readily apparent. Renewable energy is both necessary and feasible, it does not contribute to climate change or damage the environment.

Renewable energy offers a host of financial and employment benefits. During the Munk debate Trudeau correctly tied climate change to the economy. According to some analysts, investment in clean energy can provide 6 to 8 times more jobs than similar investment in the oil industry. Further a cost benefit analysis shows that acting on climate change is fiscally responsible. This is a view born out in research from LSE and Citibank.

We need to understand that after a decade of Tory mismanagement, we have fallen far behind much of the world. A vast amount of effort and energy is required to build a post fossil fuel world. However, the combination of market forces and supportive governance can build a new clean energy infrastructure. We may also see the country seriously engage radical efficiency and vastly expand its electric public transport networks.

To succeed the new government must avoid the missteps of the previous government. First and foremost we need to stop investing in an energy source that is both economically and ecologically destructive.
As explained by Tzeporah Berman an Adjunct Professor York University Faculty of Environmental Studies:

“We need to do everything we can to avoid new infrastructure that locks us in longer to a fossil fuel economy.”

To begin Canada needs to get serious about emissions reduction and to do this the country will need to move away from fossil fuels and the tar sands in particular. The provinces have provided support for clean energy and this will continue, however now it is now time for the federal government to provide bold leadership.

The Liberal party has promised to provide more incentives to the provinces for meeting as yet unspecified climate principles.

For the health of all of Canada’s inhabitants and to ensure that we leave a habitable planet to future generations Canada must rejoin the community of nations and assume its responsibilities to combat climate change.

The change of government comes at a pivotal time. We are headed towards COP21 where
expectations are high that we will finally secure a global climate
agreement.  Prime Minister Trudeau is in a position to spearhead a cleantech revolution in the country but to do so the Liberals must advance ambitious climate, energy and environmental polices that are informed by science.

Now is a time for hope. However, if Canada is to emerge out of the fog of its fossil fuel nightmare we will need more than sunny ways, we will need courageous leadership.

Related
Canadian PM and Provinces Unified for COP21
New Liberal PM’s Mandate Letter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
Canadian Government Scientists can Now Speak Freely Again (Video)
Canada’s New Minister of Environment and Climate Change is Already at Work
The Liberals Must Deliver on their Environmental and Climate Promises after 10 Years of Conservative Rule
Climate Welcome and Gifts for Canada’s New Prime Minister
Dion to Lead Canada’s New Environment, Climate Change and Energy Cabinet Committee
The New Liberal Government’s Climate and Energy Policy Promises

ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

The New Liberal Government’s Climate and Energy Promises

Next Post

Climate Change May Give Democrats the Edge in the 2016 Federal Election

Related Posts

Seasons Greetings from the Green Market Oracle

by Richard Matthews
December 24, 2021
0

American Courts are Defending Democracy and the Environment

by Richard Matthews
December 14, 2020
0

Despite unprecedented challenges, America's legal system has held. In recent weeks the courts have repeatedly defended democracy and in the last four years they have overturned a wide range of environmental...

Environmental Plebiscites: Municipal Referendums and State Ballot Initiatives

by Richard Matthews
November 12, 2020
0

The November 3rd election not only elected an environmentally responsible president it also gave Americans a chance to vote on environmental issues in five state ballots and two city referendums. Americans ...

Next Post

Climate Change May Give Democrats the Edge in the 2016 Federal Election

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • SoundCloud

Subscribe to the Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Economics

Defining Sustainable Economic Systems – Development vs Growth

by Richard Matthews
April 20, 2022
0

Prevailing economic systems are not working and it is becoming increasingly clear that we require a paradigm shift to address...

Read more
List of private equity firms and investment funds that focus on on sustainable development goals: Climate action, clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, quality education, innovation and infrastructure, life below water, and life on land.

List of the Top Sustainability Focused Private Equity Firms

March 21, 2022
russia's invasion of ukraine from the perspective of climate and energy

Russia’s War From a Climate Perspective

March 14, 2022
Private Equity Firms Are Paving the Way to a More Sustainable Future

Private Equity Firms Are Paving the Way to a More Sustainable Future 

February 21, 2022
sustainably invested cash money

Top 12 Green Private Equity Firms

February 7, 2022
  • About
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Business and Economics
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Social Change
  • Events
  • Other

© 2021 Copyright The Green Market Oracle.

No Result
View All Result
  • Business and Economics
    • Leadership
    • Supply Chains
  • Economics
  • Energy
    • Fossil Fuels
    • Renewables
  • Climate Change
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Biodiversity
    • Extreme Weather
    • Wildfires
  • Investing
  • Politics
    • American Politics
    • Canadian Politics
    • International Politics
  • Technology
    • Buildings
    • Carbon Capture
    • Food
    • Transportation
  • Social Change
    • Education
    • Activism
    • Psychology

© 2021 Copyright The Green Market Oracle.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In