{"id":268813,"date":"2020-10-16T15:35:47","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T19:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/issues\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T23:14:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T03:14:50","slug":"canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions","status":"publish","type":"issues","link":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions"},"content":{"rendered":"

This summer, in the middle of a health and economic crisis, Canada\u2019s finance minister resigned<\/a>. \u00a0His concerns over the cost and scope of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau\u2019s green economic recovery plans were reportedly a contributing factor.<\/p>\n

Since then, more concerns about Trudeau\u2019s direction have emerged<\/a> from within the Liberal ranks, while the Parliamentary Budget Officer<\/a> and leaders of Canada\u2019s biggest banks<\/a> have issued deficit warnings.<\/p>\n

Their trepidation is warranted given Trudeau\u2019s and his team\u2019s continued commitment<\/a> to their climate plan and a report<\/a> released in September by the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The task force, while independent, lists a free-spending, longtime close advisor to Justin Trudeau as a member and recommends the federal government invest (read: borrow<\/em>) $55 billion to implement what it calls \u201cfive bold moves\u201d toward Canada\u2019s net zero future.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the recommendations\u2019 cost and scope \u2013 which includes building retrofits, electric vehicles, renewable energy, conservation, and \u201cclean competitiveness and jobs\u201d \u2013 would amount to a government commandeering of the Canadian economy.<\/p>\n

And what could go wrong? We\u2019re talking about a $55-billion green initiative in the hands of a government whose inaugural bold move \u2013 a far-reaching infrastructure program<\/a> \u2013 made Canada an infrastructure partner with a hostile China<\/a>, established a domestic infrastructure bank mired in bureaucracy<\/a>, and failed on its mandate to relieve congestion, clean up the environment, and renew the nation\u2019s roads, bridges, and sewers.<\/p>\n

Further compounding critics\u2019 skepticism, the prime minister\u2019s most recent $10 billion announcement<\/a> runs climate initiatives through<\/em> the embattled infrastructure bank.<\/p>\n

Yes, Canada must take climate action, but that does not require Canadians to cede yet more power to the government in the process. In other words, we shouldn\u2019t have to give up the farm to government to achieve net zero by 2050.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a better way that: (1) replaces talking points<\/a> with institutional<\/em> accountability; (2) swaps government overreach with national <\/em>empowerment; and, (3) alleviates climate anxiety<\/a> via international<\/em> coalition-building for meaningful emissions reductions.<\/p>\n

Institutional accountability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting to net zero begins with more accountability from government. Why? Because despite politicians\u2019 emoji-heavy tweeting on climate change<\/a>, Canada\u2019s emissions have increased<\/em> in recent years. In 2018, the most recently recorded year, GHG emissions reached their highest levels since 2007<\/a>. There is no doubt that mechanisms for increased transparency and accountability are needed.<\/p>\n

For example, former UK prime minister Theresa May enshrined into law<\/a> the country\u2019s commitment to meeting net zero by 2050. Her successor, Boris Johnson, then created a dedicated cabinet committee on climate change to, \u201chold departments to account for their actions<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s government has no such cabinet or parliamentary committee that focuses solely on climate change. Parliamentary committees in particular offer opportunities for deeper, multi-party exploration on specific matters of importance. They also enhance transparency via recorded sessions, room for dissenting opinion, and expert input.<\/p>\n

Both the federal government and the House of Commons should establish committees exclusively focused on achieving our net zero mandate \u2013 one that should be written into law \u2013 to drive action within our parliamentary and legislative system.<\/p>\n

National empowerment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Secondly, government should increase domestic consumer and industry empowerment.<\/p>\n

The federal Liberals appear to be heading the other way, however, like their Ontario counterparts, whose green plan<\/a> reduced emissions but left Ontarians with sky-high electricity rates<\/a> and a soaring<\/a> provincial debt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the task force\u2019s proposed $7 billion subsidy for electric vehicle (EV) uptake risks wasteful and inequitable outcomes. Today\u2019s federal subsidies for $55,000 Teslas perfectly illustrate government underwriting at the expense of most Canadians, who still can\u2019t afford these cars but are nonetheless on the hook to front $5,000 for those who can.<\/p>\n

Measured approaches, however, can create good outcomes for consumers and the environment while respecting the taxpayer dollar. To this end, the task force\u2019s recommendation for a California-like automotive manufacturer mandate \u2013 the only item on the menu that won\u2019t cost billions \u2013 is sound. It moves the market<\/em> to phase in zero-emissions vehicles in increasing proportions and will lead to more used EVs subsequently becoming available, boosting accessibility and affordability.<\/p>\n

Smart, well-timed mandates and market-based solutions outperform taxpayer-funded government schemes.<\/p>\n

Government must also make a point of working with Canada\u2019s world-class oil and gas industry to bring about large-scale emissions reductions. Importantly, major Canadian energy companies such as Cenovus and Canadian Natural Resources have made the net zero pledge.<\/p>\n

Moreover and encouragingly, the physicist behind net zero \u2013 professor Myles Allen<\/a> \u2013 asserts that the fossil fuel industry could solve<\/em><\/a> the climate change problem. Allen raises the industry\u2019s engineering capabilities and access to capital as key inputs in its ability to remove CO2<\/sub>.<\/p>\n

As the International Energy Agency forecasts that we\u2019re more than a decade away<\/a> from fossil fuel demand\u2019s peak in the current policy landscape, Canada\u2019s oil and gas industry \u2013 a declared partner in the net zero pursuit and an investor in clean tech<\/a> and renewable energy<\/a> \u2013 must<\/em> be a leader in Canada\u2019s recovery and climate plans.<\/p>\n

Government collaboration is needed, however, to establish a national net zero framework, pinpointing industry plans and trajectories and positioning leading innovation for economic and environmental gains.<\/p>\n

International leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lastly, Canada mustn\u2019t fall into isolated thinking. Our share of global emissions is, after all, less than 2 percent<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But when we do look to international solutions, Canada perpetually relies on flawed agreements. As Nobel Prize in Economics recipient William Nordhaus<\/a> points out, the Paris Agreement is uncoordinated and permits free riding<\/a>, rendering it ineffective.<\/p>\n

The Yale professor offers a new type of agreement he calls the \u201cClimate Club.\u201d Those states not part of this coalition of the willing<\/em> could be subject to tariffs on imports, allowing developed economies to advance their democratic and<\/em> environmental values in a more coordinated way in the face of threats from totalitarian, free-riding states like China.<\/p>\n

Bringing together such a club would, of course, require strong multilateral leadership. In that regard, Prime Minister Trudeau\u2019s failed bid<\/a> for a United Nations Security Council seat does not inspire confidence; his vote count was lower than that of his predecessor, Stephen Harper.<\/p>\n

With better leadership, Canada can lead an international coalition of the willing, and the work of Oxford University\u2019s Cameron Hepburn<\/a> \u2013 a leading economist focused on energy and climate policy \u2013 could offer one opportunity to do so.<\/p>\n

Hepburn and his team evaluated pathways to CO2<\/sub> utilization<\/a> such as through storage in wooden buildings and use in soils to enhance crop yields. He recently suggested to me that Canada \u2013 playing to our strengths \u2013 could lead a coalition of nations committed to capturing and using a gigatonne of CO2<\/sub> by a set deadline.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s climate action on a significant scale. A gigatonne is the equivalent of Canada\u2019s total emissions and then some, about 40 percent of India\u2019s, or nearly 10 percent of China\u2019s.<\/p>\n

With this approach, Hepburn says Canada could \u201cput the net<\/em> in net zero.\u201d<\/p>\n

A deeply solvable problem<\/strong><\/p>\n

Certainly, there are plenty more emissions-reducing government nudges that can be made. And, yes, carbon pricing has a place in that mix.<\/p>\n

But the message that needs to get to Canadians is this: Canada absolutely has a path to \u2013 and leadership role in \u2013 net zero emissions by 2050. Whether that path or role is pitched as bold or boring is irrelevant. What matters most is that the plan works while economic proprietorship \u2013 the farm \u2013 remains with Canadians.<\/p>\n

It starts with a more accountable and transparent government, necessitates consumer-empowering, market-based mandates and going directly and collaboratively to the oil and gas industry, and forges an international coalition of the willing for high-impact, global emissions reductions.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the kind of plan and leadership that Canada and the world need to solve what professor Myles Allen calls \u201ca deeply solvable problem,\u201d one gigatonne at a time.<\/p>\n

Photo: Wind farm in Pincher Creek, Alberta. Shutterstock.com, by Pictureguy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This summer, in the middle of a health and economic crisis, Canada\u2019s finance minister resigned. \u00a0His concerns over the cost and scope of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau\u2019s green economic recovery plans were reportedly a contributing factor. Since then, more concerns about Trudeau\u2019s direction have emerged from within the Liberal ranks, while the Parliamentary Budget Officer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":278296,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-10-08T03:14:53Z","apple_news_api_id":"95dcd0eb-1f97-4b78-b8d7-1bde5af9aa02","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-10-08T03:14:54Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AldzQ6x-XS3i41xveWvmqAg","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[9362,9361,9372],"tags":[8638],"article-status":[],"irpp-category":[4245,4261],"section":[],"irpp-tag":[],"class_list":["post-268813","issues","type-issues","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economie","category-environnement","category-recent-stories-fr","tag-changements-climatiques","irpp-category-economie","irpp-category-environnement"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nCanadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This summer, in the middle of a health and economic crisis, Canada\u2019s finance minister resigned. \u00a0His concerns over the cost and scope of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau\u2019s green economic recovery plans were reportedly a contributing factor. Since then, more concerns about Trudeau\u2019s direction have emerged from within the Liberal ranks, while the Parliamentary Budget Officer […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Policy Options\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IRPP.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-08T03:14:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@irpp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/\",\"name\":\"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-10-16T19:35:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-08T03:14:50+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"fr-FR\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"fr-FR\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":700},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/\",\"name\":\"Policy Options\",\"description\":\"Institute for Research on Public Policy\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"fr-FR\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/","og_locale":"fr_FR","og_type":"article","og_title":"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions","og_description":"This summer, in the middle of a health and economic crisis, Canada\u2019s finance minister resigned. \u00a0His concerns over the cost and scope of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau\u2019s green economic recovery plans were reportedly a contributing factor. Since then, more concerns about Trudeau\u2019s direction have emerged from within the Liberal ranks, while the Parliamentary Budget Officer […]","og_url":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/","og_site_name":"Policy Options","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IRPP.org","article_modified_time":"2025-10-08T03:14:50+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":700,"url":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@irpp","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/","url":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/","name":"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg","datePublished":"2020-10-16T19:35:47+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-08T03:14:50+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"fr-FR","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"fr-FR","@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Keeso.jpg","width":2000,"height":700},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2020\/10\/canadians-need-not-give-up-the-farm-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Canadians need not give up the farm to achieve net-zero emissions"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/#website","url":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/","name":"Policy Options","description":"Institute for Research on Public Policy","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"fr-FR"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issues\/268813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issues"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/issues"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/278296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268813"},{"taxonomy":"article-status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-status?post=268813"},{"taxonomy":"irpp-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/irpp-category?post=268813"},{"taxonomy":"section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section?post=268813"},{"taxonomy":"irpp-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/irpp-tag?post=268813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}