Green Economy

Sarah Elliott, René Ménard, Tana Jukes

Outline

• The “Green Economy” – what does it mean?

• Theory & Context• Green Economy in Canada• Case Study: Green Economy in Vancouver

Introduction:The “Green Economy” Idea

• UNEP Green Economy Initiative: – the vital links between economy, society, and environment are taken

into account– transformation of production and consumption processes and patterns– reduction per unit in waste, pollution, and the use of resources,

materials, and energy, waste, and pollution emission– revitalize and diversify economies, create decent employment

opportunities, promote sustainable trade, reduce poverty, and improve equity and income distribution.”

.....AMBIGUITY.....• Environmental economy – Ecological economy – Green economy

• Gregor Robertson

Key Thinkers

• Key thinkers:– James Robertson: the holistic perspective –

“the Sane Alternative”– E. F. Schumacher: the appropriate scale –

“Small is Beautiful”– Kenneth Boulding: the limits to growth –

“Spaceship Earth”–Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen: the Law of

Entropy– Richard Douthwaite: Contraction &

Convergence

Tension Points

• Why do we care?– Ecological Footprints: urban economics as

human ecology• (Rees, 1992)

– “Economic Reasons for Conserving Wild Nature”: benefits 100:1

• (Balmford et al., 2002)

• Why aren’t we there yet?– “Green and Competitive”: incorrect issue

framing - ecology vs economy ...?• (Porter & van der Linde, 1999)

Green Economy in Canada

• Implementation challenges facing Canada

• Conservative Party Building a Clean Energy Superpower

• Liberal Party Green shift• Green Party Vision Green• NDP The New Energy

Economy• Bloc Québécois Reducing Petroleum

Dependence

Green Economy in Canada (cont.)

Conservative Party- Promote Northern Pipelines- $3 billion to clean energy- 90% electricity from non-emitting sources by 2020

Green Economy in Canada (cont.)

Liberal Party:- Putting a price on emissions- Reduce income and corporate taxes- Incentives for green investment and R&D

Green Economy in Canada (cont.)

Green Party:- Tax shift similar

to liberals’- Invest in rail systems- Invest in public transportation- Move towards food self-sufficiency

Green Economy in Canada (cont.)

New Democratic Party:- Financial incentives for clean

power- Establish Canadian Renewable

Energy Agency- Increase support for rail transport- Green-Collar Jobs Plan- Invest in low/zero emission vehicles

Green Economy in Canada (cont.)

Bloc Québécois:

- Encourage low emission vehicles

- Conversion of heating systems- Support wind energy industry

Pembina Report

•Pembina Institute and David Suzuki Foundation, with economic predictions by M. K. Jaccard & Associates Inc.

•Suggests policies that will reduce GHGs by 25%-40% below 1990 levels

•GDP growth reduced by 0.3% until 2020

Case Study: Metro Vancouver

Case Study: Metro Vancouver (cont.)

• Regional Growth Strategy: 'Metro Vancouver 2040: Shaping our Future'

How Metro Vancouver will sustainably accommodate over a million new residents by 2040

– Create compact urban areas– Support a sustainable economy– Protect the regional environment and respond

to climate change– Develop complete communities– Support sustainable transportation choices

Case Study: City of Vancouver

Case Study: City of Vancouver

• 'Vancouver 2020 A Bright Green Future: An Action Plan for Becoming the World’s Greenest City by 2020'

• Electric Car Program- 'being an electric vehicle friendly city‘

 • 'City Plan' & EcoDensity- density, design

& land use can lead to sustainability, affordability & liveability

The Green Economy: Whose Responsibility is it?

• Individual municipal plans: ie, Vancouver 2020

• “Full responsibility for implementing the [2040 RGS] plan rests squarely on the shoulders of the municipalities; Metro Vancouver acts largely in a regulatory role...”

• City of Port Coquitlam: Report to Council (2009)

Conclusion

• Ambiguity of the “green economy” concept

• Green economy in Canada: political challenges

• Green economy in Vancouver: who is responsible?

Will the green economy be successful in Canada?