Of climate change and a change in climate
Canadians are concerned about climate change. About this, there is no question. The majority of Canadians worry about the implications of a changing climate on their lives, their children’s lives and for the planet. Some Canadians believe there is nothing to worry about or it won’t affect us. Others just outright deny the possibility of a changing climate.
Regardless of where you stand in this ongoing debate (which really isn’t a debate) what to do about climate change will be a big component of the upcoming federal election. Each of the parties is going to have to take a stand on the issue.
Whether it is the Conservatives Real Plan to Protect Our Environment or the Liberal’s carbon tax or the Green Party’s reason for being, a stance on climate change will be critical but little of substance will likely be presented.
Take the carbon tax introduced by the federal government. Is it the evil money grab from the middle class as portrayed repeatedly by Andrew Scheer and the Conservatives? No. Particularly as the funds will either be returned to low income earners in the form of rebates or utilized to develop a more sustainable economy.
But will it save the planet as promised by Justin Trudeau and the Liberals? No. While carbon taxes can drive down gasoline consumption by moderate amounts, the size of the tax would need to be much, much larger for it to be truly effective. People will adjust to the few pennies per litre the tax costs and life will go on.
Does this mean a carbon tax is a good thing? No. Research has shown such interventions create a false sense of accomplishment and tend to make people feel they are already doing their part rather than getting on with the hard work which needs to be done.
If you really wanted to change people’s driving habits and drive down carbon emissions, the best approach would be to ban new car sales of any vehicle which doesn’t get at least 12 kilometres per litre (8.3 litres per 100 km). This would vastly reduce the number, size and types of vehicles on the road and would achieve much larger reductions in carbon dioxide emissions than a carbon tax.
But many pundits would argue you can’t do this. After all, it is meddling in the free market (which is neither free nor a market). It would eliminate some of our personal freedoms. And it would put us at odds with our biggest trading partners.
It would, they argue, wreck the economy. This is the rallying cry for those opposed to doing anything to mitigate the effects of climate change. Why should we give up what we have so that hypothetical future generations can live on Earth? You can’t destroy the economy to save the environment.
Of course, this is a false dichotomy. It is not the environment or the economy – it is the environment and the economy. This is where we need to go. It is where our leaders should be heading. It is not a question of one or the other but finding a way to do both. And it will require change.
Take the earlier suggestion of banning new car sales unless they exceed a minimum threshold for gas mileage. Sure it would put some people out of work but it would also open up opportunities in the auto industry. Production of the small subset of vehicles which qualify would need to be rapidly ramped up, requiring auto workers with experience.
It would also stimulate research to find alternative ways to get more power from an engine while respecting emission standards.
The point is such strategies will help to save the environment for now and for future generations while changing the way our economy operates. I realize the above is a simplistic example but there are so many ways where we can do what is right to mitigate climate change and at the same time enhance our economy. It is not one or the other. It is both. We just have to find a way.
I have been writing these columns for 13 years and it has been my pleasure to engage in discussion of political matters as I see them. However, after 25 years at UNBC, I am taking a year-long sabbatical and will be spending much of my time working with Waikato University in Hamilton, New Zealand. I will be taking a break from writing these columns, although Neil Godbout has assured me I can still send the occasional column his way during the upcoming election campaign.
To all the readers of this column, I say thank you, especially to those who disagree with me. The whole point of opinion pieces is to develop debate about topics and hopefully some of what I have had to say has done that.