Preparing Canada for a Low-Carbon Future
31-Jan-2012CALGARY – January 31, 2012. An economy predicated on natural resource development and heavily reliant on international exports puts western Canada—and by extension, the rest of the country—in a challenging position in a low-carbon future. A new publication released by the Canada West Foundation examines what is needed to transition to a low-carbon economy—arguably one of the most important public policy issues facing the country today.
Cautious Optimism: Western Perspectives on a Low-Carbon Economy, by Senior Policy Analyst, Shawna Stirrett, is the synthesis report from roundtables held in November 2011 by the Canada West Foundation and the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy (NRT). The discussions brought together experts in government, academia, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, energy and mining who examined the risks and opportunities for western Canada as the global economy becomes more carbon-constrained.
During these conversations, a number of key actions emerged that could facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy, including:
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Focusing on improving western Canada’s performance around carbon emissions;
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Raising the level of education and literary on energy and environmental issues;
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Fostering the commercialization of energy innovations; and
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Changing the language and scope of the low-carbon conversation.
“Western Canada is at the epicenter of the issues facing this country as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy. It is essential that we have a national plan for how to navigate this transition and that plan must work for the West. If it doesn’t work in western Canada, it’s not going to work for the country,” observed author Shawna Stirrett.
While there were common goals shared by the participants, differences arose due to the unique political, economic, and environmental realities facing each of the provinces. A national vision must account for these differences to truly link energy, the environment, and the economy. There may be challenges ahead, but participants were cautiously optimistic that western Canada can transition to a position of low-carbon strength.
Canada West Foundation is the only think tank dedicated to being the objective, nonpartisan voice for issues of vital concern to western Canadians.
This report is part of the Canada West Foundation’s Powering Up for the Future initiative, which focuses on public policy challenges at the interface of the economy, the environment and energy.
The recommendations from Cautious Optimism: Western Perspectives on a Low-Carbon Economy will feed into the NRT’s sixth report in their Climate Prosperity program, to be released in summer 2012.
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For a copy of Cautious Optimism: Western Perspectives on a Low-Carbon Economy or any other Canada West Foundation research paper, visit www.cwf.ca.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Rachael Strathern
Communications Team Lead
403-700-9535 communication@cwf.ca