The race for green growth
The race for green growth
By Scott Brison
Last month, I participated in the World Economic Forum’s 40th annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. This year’s theme was to “rethink, redesign, and rebuild” the world economy. The 3Es — energy, environment, and economy — dominated discussions. From carbon pricing to smart grids, the consensus among global government and business leaders is that the discussion has shifted from environmental responsibility to the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century.
Given the potential rewards in terms of jobs and prosperity, competition for leadership in 3E-related sectors is fierce. We are falling behind. Stephen Harper’s failure to prepare Canada for the economy of tomorrow will cost Canadian jobs and prosperity.
Nowhere is the drive to become a clean energy leader more evident than China. Two years ago, China became the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels. Last year, China leapfrogged Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States to become the largest maker of wind turbines in the world. In partnership with Vestas of Denmark, China recently built the world’s biggest wind turbine plant.
As part of its next five year plan, China is considering carbon pricing mechanisms to encourage green investment and to avoid carbon tariffs abroad.
As China builds a modern energy system it has become the largest market in the world for smart grids, smart meters, and clean energy production technology. Massive investments in transportation, sewage treatment technology, and progressive urban design are also in the cards.
Canada is well placed to take advantage of such opportunities. We can leverage our existing expertise in the traditional energy sector to become a leader in clean energy.
Canada has the knowledge base to become a global innovator in all areas of clean technology. We were an early leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS) — which will be integral for coal-reliant economies like China to reduce their carbon emission — because of projects like Weyburn, Sask., pioneered by a partnership between EnCana and Ottawa.
In his State of the Union address, Barack Obama said that “the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy.” Stephen Harper doesn’t seem to get it, however. Where everyone else sees opportunity, he sees only costs. Mr. Harper was alone in Davos insisting that measures to address climate change will hurt the economy with “real impacts on jobs and economic growth,” and that “there are serious tradeoffs with economic imperatives in the short term.”
Harper’s myopic view is out of step with the rest of the world. The United States invested six times more per capita than Canada in clean energy through their stimulus package. When China and the United States signed an agreement on CCS technology — an area where Canada is a global leader — we were not even at the table.
The Davos consensus is clear: Green technology will be the economic engine of the future. Without investments in eco-efficiency, our traditional industries will be less competitive and Canada will lose its place in new green industries.
Canada can still compete for the green jobs of tomorrow. But we need leadership now.
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Scott Brison is MP for Kings-Hants. He is the Liberal international trade critic and chair of the Liberal leader’s advisory committee on economic strategy. The article was originally published in the National Post.
Well said. There is a clear role for a new relationship between the federal government and municipalities. Gasoline is to this century what nicotene was to the last. In my mind that analogy equates cars and cigarettes. Infrastructure which entrenches the role of vehicles is problematic. Free and universal access to health care is one thing but free and universal access to roads, bridges and curb parking speaks to prolonging of addiction to oil and depenency of the car. Sustainable urban density is where we need to be; focus on market shoppping within easy walking distance from your elevator, larger balconies need to replace front lawns, parks and schools must become further integrated to the urban landscape.
This article has a lot of truth to it but it is hardly non-partisan. I have to question why this blog says when you are leaving a comment to “keep their comments on topic, non-partisan, use language that is civil and respectful, and refrain from attacks of any kind” when the MP that wrote the article attacks and is not partisan. I do happen to agree with what is said, I just find it hard stimulate non-partisan discussion with a very partisan to a very partisan post, I don’t know I could be wrong. Something to think about for future posts.
Canada I don’t think has a choice but to invest in new clean energy and production facilities and technology to assist our country as well as others. We have strong engineering departments and research universities in every province, with very young and innovative minds, I think that special funding should be put in place in these departments to come up for innovative ideas that could allow us to produce clean technologies at a greater pace and at a competitive price. This would cost more at the beginning but like any investment it takes time to pay off. The difference here is that this is a relatively safe investment as clean energy will be one of the strongest sectors in years to come.
Canada, as I have also posted before, needs to set strong goals for itself as it moves forward on climate change. We can say whatever we want to the international community on how to lower emissions with new technologies and create green jobs, but no one is going to take us seriously unless we lead by example. Let Canada be a leader and stop being a follower. Barack Obama is correct that those who lead in clean energy will lead the global economy, and I have the upmost respect for the man, but really did we need the American President to tell us this? We know this information, we have access to the same assessment and studies as they do, what we really need to do is act and we have to start acting right now. Science should get a big boost in this country and over time new ideas will arise as well as the old ideas updated and perfected.
Technologies are not just enough though Canada has to stand up and show the world there is a better way to do business and run a green economy and bring this to the attention to the world after we have started implementing these procedures at home. The things we have to realize when we go to conferences and meetings are that you have to practice what you preach and we really need to make advancements in this area. There is no reason why Canada can lead in this new emerging economy; the only thing that will stop or enable us is willpower to change.
I think the country that will lead the future in innovation is the country that respects the value of copyright in all its potential forms.
Canada is not even close.