Just before the world met in Cancun for climate talks, Conservatives in the Senate -- abetted by the prime minister -- deprived Canadians of legislation that would address the pressing problem of global climate change and also usher in a prosperous clean energy economy.
When pressed why the Conservative Senate called the premature vote on the Climate Change Accountability Act on Nov. 16th, Prime Minister Stephen Harper retorted that it would have thrown "hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of people out of work."
green economy
Climate action will stimulate economy and jobs
Japan's WTO complaint against Canada could expose corporate attack on green jobs
The conflict between environmental policy and the current international trade regime has been long, controversial, and inconclusive. As the world comes to terms with the severity of the climate crisis and its causes in human economic activity, questions about whether climate change mitigation strategies are legal or not under World Trade Organization and other trade rules are more pressing than ever.
The same uncertainty has haunted local procurement and job creation measures post-financial crisis, some of which are tied to broader environmental goals. A good example is Ontario's Green Energy Act, which directs local and international investment toward the creation of green jobs in the province.
Green economy coalitions for change
In green economy and sustainable development debates, some groups have more power to determine goals, policies and outcomes than others. For sustainable development and poverty reduction to be attainable, broad-based participation is required to shift power relations and empower citizens to hold governments and businesses to account for their decisions and actions.
This is the fourth video in the series ""Bringing the Social to Rio+20".
Green economy and sustainable development
Discussions about green economy often ignore the social -- this short 10-minute video addresses this issue. Check out the UN Research Institute for Sustainable Development (UNRISD) Project on the Social Dimensions of Green Economy and Sustainable Development http://www.unrisd.org/greeneconomy
The economic impact of carbon controls
There's a reason why Tory Environment Minister Jim Prentice labelled the report released last week outlining the cost and benefits of carbon control "irresponsible."
If we seat-rich Ontarians really got the meaning of these findings, the Tories would be tumbling in the polls and out on their asses faster than you can say "Michael, Jack."
The study, Climate Leadership, Economic Prosperity, funded by the TD Bank, is the first detailed attempt to foresee how policies pushing targeted greenhouse gas reductions will affect Canada's economic growth.
September 10, 2009 |
Bringing community, labour and environmental activists together to determine how we can achieve an economy that benefits all – an economy based on sustainability, equity and justice.
August 3, 2009 |
United Steelworkers and Environmental Defence calls on Ottawa to design a Canadian global warming response that achieves environmental goals while creating good green jobs across the country.