Canada must lead on climate

An open letter from scholars at Canadian universities

Dear Prime Minister,

In the face of vocal opposition to climate action, we cannot remain silent. As scholars from across Canada, we urge your government to prioritize climate leadership and choose a path towards a low-carbon and resilient economy. Canada must continue to work to minimize our contribution to climate change and build the capacity to adapt to and remain competitive in a changing world. 

China, the EU and many other governments around the world are ramping up climate action, deploying low-carbon technologies, and reducing their emissions. Here in Canada, we must resist calls to roll back climate policies and instead align our level of ambition with those countries who are currently leading the way.

Canadians are facing uncertain and unprecedented economic pressures. We are also feeling the acute impacts of a changing climate as increasing greenhouse gas emissions are driving intensifying heat waves, wildfires and floods. Ignoring and failing to address both the immediate and long-term impacts of climate change will further harm our communities, ecosystems and economic well-being.

Ten years ago, a group of us came together as Sustainable Canada Dialogues, to build a national discussion and that resulted in a set of policy recommendations for a sustainable, inclusive and low-carbon Canada. Many of these recommendations are still key priorities and present opportunities to move forward on both climate policy and other current national priorities. 

Major Infrastructure Projects: Infrastructure decisions are the most powerful options on the table to affect future climate trajectories, and Canada’s new Major Projects Office could be used to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. By investing in east-west electricity transmission, renewable energy generation and inter-city electric rail connections, we can build infrastructure projects that create low-carbon jobs and lay the groundwork for long-term prosperity. Partnerships with Indigenous communities as well as other local communities can facilitate both Indigenous sovereignty and community benefit from infrastructure development. 

Cost of living: Rising costs of energy, housing and transportation are major challenges for many Canadians today. Here, strategic investments and regulations can incentivize and structurally lower the cost of low-carbon choices such as heat pumps and other energy efficiency retrofits, as well as low-carbon transportation modes such as transit, active and shared transportation, and electric vehicles. To achieve affordability, the recently launched “Build Canada Homes” agency must strive for the construction of high-efficiency climate-resilient housing that will reduce vulnerabilities to weather and climate extremes and lower insurance costs. 

Economic competitiveness: Despite climate rollbacks south of the border, much of the rest of the world is moving towards low-carbon energy and transportation systems. Enhancing trade relationships with Europe and Asia will increasingly require that we meet their high expectations for environmental and climate leadership. To stay economically competitive in a low-carbon world we must transition to an economy built around diversified renewable generation and energy storage technologies. Investments in electrification and clean energy technologies are key enablers of a thriving future Canadian economy.

Indigenous leadership and partnerships: First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are at the forefront of climate action. Indigenous communities hold extensive expertise that is deeply rooted in regionally specific knowledge, and many communities are leading the implementation of effective solutions across Canada. Canadian climate policy efforts stand to benefit from respectful partnerships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, recognizing their distinct rights and important leadership role, and listening carefully to their solutions.

National security: Climate change is increasingly recognized as a threat to national security. Longer stretches of ice-free Arctic waters open the prospect of intensified sovereignty claims. Investments in national security can align with climate action to support the stability of northern energy systems by developing waste to energy or solar infrastructure capacity thus also improving energy security for local communities.

Justice and Equity: It is well known that vulnerable and marginalized populations generally face the worst consequences from climate impacts, whereas the wealthiest among us bear the most responsibility for these damages. Canada could enable climate mitigation and adaptation while enhancing justice and equity by supporting community capacity building and jobs training programs in support of local decarbonization and climate resilience initiatives.

We call on Canada to reaffirm and strengthen its commitment to climate action. Now is the time to advance strong climate policies as a core element of a healthy economy and a thriving social system. Ambitious and well-designed climate policy is not a cost for Canadians. It is an opportunity to innovate and to build the foundation of a better future for all of us.

Signed