Backtracking coal targets a COP26 failure, but summit still brings hope
LONDON, U.K.—Closing the two-week COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Nov. 13, Alok Sharma, the British president of the 197-country conference, declared “We’ve kept 1.5 [degrees Celsius] within reach, but its pulse is weak.” But he was close to tears several times in his closing remarks. That was not because the 40,000-delegate meeting was a […]
Where are the strings attached to the money committed to net-zero transformation?
Finance was one of the main themes of COP26. Most notable was Mark Carney’s announcement of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) commitment of more than $130-trillion in private capital to transform the economy towards net-zero emissions. But the next day, Bloomberg Green warned that the bankers committing to “net-zero” targets don’t agree on what […]
Canada needs better protection for its ocean-protected areas, says new report
When Canada declared 14 per cent of its ocean was protected from overfishing, pollution and industrial development a couple of years ago, the world took notice of a come-from-behind conservation champion. The country had pledged—along with almost 200 other signatories to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity—to safeguard fish and other marine life in at […]
Climate change will also impact Canada’s traditional security interests
MONTREAL—On Oct. 29, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed that Canada host a NATO Centre of Excellence on Climate and Security. Trudeau may be conceiving this initiative as a preliminary multilateral effort among like-minded developed states, before embarking on broader and more complex policy efforts beyond Europe and North America. Climate change will primarily exacerbate […]
Where’s Canada as trading partners address global shipping emissions?
World leaders are currently gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, to discuss what their nations can do to help avert the catastrophic consequences of climate change. Previous agreements have focused on how individual countries can cut emissions. Now, countries are also working to address a major source of emissions that lies outside of any one country’s jurisdiction: […]
Nursing the green hangover and getting back to work
As the UN Climate Change Conference comes to a close this week, many Canadians will be asking those who spent two weeks lauding themselves as the green saviours of the globe: what happens now? For the Canadian delegation in Scotland, the event kicked off with big pronouncements and headlines, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated […]
How to push for ideals in a pragmatic world
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Warning: if you’re an idealist who goes into politics armed with grand notions about changing the world for the better, the odds are good you’ll likely end up being disappointed. After all, the cynicism that drenches most aspects of politics has a way of scouring away idealism and replacing it with a hard-headed pragmatism. […]
Canada must get serious about Arctic science
Canada needs to take a larger role in Arctic research. So far, despite all the dire warnings, the campaign promises, and the clear responsibility we hold, our country has failed to step up. With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) underway and a new cabinet minted after a summer of devastating fires, wild weather, and […]
Politics This Morning: Innovation Minister in Washington to discuss unblocking supply chains
Good Thursday morning! Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry FRANCOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE is in Washington, D.C. today for his second and final day of meetings. His goal? Unblocking North America’s currently buckling supply chains and making them more resilient to outside shocks. Quite the tall order. According to a press release, Mr. Champagne will speak with […]
Three key priorities Canadians should expect from Parliament on climate action
As we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and look to establish a new sense of normalcy, there is an increasing threat looming ready to challenge governments and citizens alike. Raging forest fires, floods and record-breaking temperatures are the not-so-subtle and unrelenting knock of the next crisis we collectively face—climate change. Policy-makers, politicians, and […]
