Wind and solar groups unite in new national renewable energy association ‘during this period of historical global transformation’
As the coronavirus restrictions continue to ease across the country, a new national renewable energy association is getting ready to push to ensure “renewable energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix during this period of historical global transformation,” reads a press release from the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. On […]
We may be in uncharted waters, but we aren’t lost at sea
As Canada navigates the COVID-19 pandemic from immediate response, to short-term relief, and, finally, long-term recovery, its leaders will face increasing scrutiny as to how much money is going where, and to what extent it will help us build back better. If this all feels vaguely familiar, it’s because we’ve seen it before. When the […]
Environment Policy Briefing
Environment is not an externality; it’s the core of human economy
Relegated to a mere “externality” of our globalized economy for decades, nature has made a stark eruption to remind us of its importance on this yearly World Environment Day. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented abrupt interruption of globalized human activity directly linked to our ill-treatment of nature. Greater human encroachment on natural habitats increases […]
Mr. Rajotte goes to Washington
It seems fitting, before discussing the intricate and somewhat frayed bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States, to first acknowledge the recent passing of Allan Gotlieb, an esteemed public servant, a visionary diplomat, and Canada’s longest-serving ambassador to the United States (1981-1989). And while the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War have long passed, […]
Cutting our emissions isn’t enough, we’ll need geoengineering
LONDON, U.K.—Human beings respond well to a crisis that is familiar, especially if it is also imminent. They don’t do nearly as well when the threat is unfamiliar and still apparently quite distant. Consider our response to the current coronavirus threat. Countries in East Asia with recent experience of similar viruses (SARS, etc.) immediately responded […]
The climate crisis: learning and taking inspiration from our COVID response
Imagine a world where the federal government regularly holds press conferences with scientists and experts. Together, in front of a phalanx of reporters ready with tough questions, they present in detail the most recent data and research related to carbon emissions and climate change in Canada. They highlight the successes and shortcomings in recent months […]
What would an ethical recovery look like?
OTTAWA—Canadians are not accustomed to Googling the websites of their various houses of worship for scintillatingly brilliant advice on how to design vibrant economies. That might be as useful as asking the current denizen of the White House for clues on hairstyling. But if faith communities are places where adherents go to have their moral […]
Environment, resource development agenda among April’s top-lobbied files
COVID-19 is offering important lessons for Canada’s approach to climate change and the need for green programs to be built into economic recovery, say some of the groups lobbying the ministers focused on these files and pushing them to the top of the list during the pandemic. Over the last two months, Natural Resources Minister […]
Oil demand drop, renewable energy resiliency prompts calls for federal clean energy investment in economic recovery
Following recent evidence showing that renewable energy hasn’t shared the same fate as oil and gas, which have seen recent and dramatic drops in demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Green Party MP Elizabeth May is calling on the federal government to support the renewable sector over the beleaguered oil sands, with a number of environmental […]
