Climate change threatens current, future generations: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
WARSAW, POLAND—All of us in this room share a momentous responsibility. Climate change threatens current and future generations. We need look no further than last week’s catastrophe in the Philippines. I extend my deepest condolences to those affected and families and victims of Typhoon Haiyan. All around the world, people now face and fear […]
Why a green economic future is more robust, resilient than putting all our eggs in fossil fuel basket
The starting point in discussing the enormous opportunity of the green economy is to appreciate that the future of a fossil fuel-dependent economy will be short and painful. As the International Energy Agency has warned, of all known reserves of fossil fuels on the planet, two-thirds must remain in the ground until at least […]
PM has made Canada uniquely vulnerable by betting on carbon side of energy equation
One of the biggest risks facing the Canadian energy sector is Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s all-in bet on the carbon economy. To borrow a phrase from him, Canada is an “energy super power,” however, the PM has made Canada uniquely vulnerable because he has bet on the carbon side of the energy equation and […]
Why we need a green economy today, and for tomorrow
In a seminal 1987 report, Our Common Future, the Brundtland Commission advanced the understanding of global interdependence and the relationship between economics and the environment. The report wove together social, economic, cultural, and environmental issues and global solutions. It stated that “the environment does not exist as a sphere separate from human actions, ambitions, […]
Canada’s environmental standards always been among best in world
Canada is fortunate to have enormous wealth, from natural resources, including abundant oil and gas reserves. In fact, we are the world’s fifth largest producer of natural gas and we possess the third largest proven oil reserves, 172 billion barrels, of which 168 billion are in the oilsands. Our energy resources can provide long-term […]
Protecting nature makes sense for Canada
When most Canadians think about nature, they probably think about recreation and personal enjoyment, and, possibly, the role of natural heritage in our history and natural identity. Often forgotten is how important our natural heritage is to our prosperity. Canada’s prosperity relies on biological diversity and on the goods and services provided by a […]
‘Green economy’ rhetoric muddying policy waters, say economists
Canada’s “green economy” is at a crossroads and economists are split on whether to clarify how we define things like “green jobs” and “the green economy”—or do away with the terms altogether. Politicians and policymakers are playing fast and loose with economic-environmental hybrid terms like “green jobs” in an effort to maximize the political […]
Financial Services
Middle class squeezed by high household debt
The economic challenges facing Canadian middle-class families are also a risk to Canada’s financial sector. In the last year, Canadian banks have been downgraded by the world’s leading debt rating agencies. Both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s have been clear about what is behind these downgrades: concern about the banks’ exposure to record high […]
Lack of real action on credit card fees hurting businesses, consumers
Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of our economy. SMEs are the engines of innovation and job creation that help create thriving and prosperous communities. However, these vital businesses are facing a serious challenge: their costs are skyrocketing as a result of the large credit card companies gouging them with […]
