VOTE for your CLIMATE FUTURE 2050

The Canadian federal electoral landscape has changed dramatically leading into the upcoming COP21 UN Climate Conference in Paris. There is now the potential to galvanize climate action at all levels of Canadian society. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson noted, “[b]ig cities have taken a leadership role by implementing practical environmental initiatives. . .We need other governments around the world to make similar commitments towards increasing energy efficiency, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy, and thereby reducing our greenhouse gas footprint.” (July 2015 Big City Mayors’ Caucus). The time is ripe for the federal government to step up and stimulate ‘changes’ to move Canada towards a low-carbon economy and sustainable society; however, this begs the question,

What kind of change is necessary?


On October 30th, 10:00am-12:00pm PST or 1:00pm-3:00pm EST, a diverse group of scholars from the Sustainable Canada Dialogues project met to discuss what, how wide and how deep do we need to go to successfully mitigate and adapt to climate change. The panelists included

 

Professor Ann Dale, Moderator, School of Environment & Sustainability, Royal Roads University
Professor Catherine Potvin, Department of Biology, McGill University, Trottier Fellow from the Trottier Institute for Science and Public Policy Director, Panama Field Study Semester
Dr. Normand Mousseau, Department of Physics, Université de Montréal
Professor John Robinson, Associate Provost, Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Professor, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability and Department of Geography, University of British Columbia
Dr. Meg Holden, Urban Studies and Geography, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Sarah Otto, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia
Dr. Anthony Perl, Department of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Aerin Jacob, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Victoria

 

Click here to read the conversation

 

THREE POSSIBLE CLIMATE SCENARIOS FOR CANADA

We have prepared three scenarios that depict likely outcomes from three different development pathways, based on a change continuum now being explored by the MC3: Meeting the Climate Change Challenge research team.

 

Incremental – Small steps towards climate change adaptation that are ‘politically safe’, that do not change existing natural resource development and that do not question the current socio-political arrangements and infrastructure (i.e. energy efficiency).

Transitional – Large actions that require bold technological and social innovation supported by significant government leadership and incentivization, with some reform of the dominant socio-political arrangements and major reform of infrastructure (i.e. district energy systems, decentralization of the grid).

Transformational – A fundamental shift in the socio-political regime and governance underpinned by a carbon neutral economy.

 

Click on the 2050 scenarios below to expand the table, and explore three alternative future development paths for your country. To download a copy, click here.


As you explore these scenarios, reflect on which climate future you think is more sustainable, and vote on your preference by clicking here.

 

Resources and References

Black, R., Adger, W. N., Arnell, N., Dercon, S., Geddes, A., & Thomas, D. S. G. (2011). Migration and global environmental change: Future scenarios. London, UK. Retrieved from http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/27073/

Torrie, R. (2013). An 80% Carbon Reduction: It’s Not Just Business as Usual. Trottier Energy Futures Project. Retrieved from http://www.trottierenergyfutures.ca/an-80-carbon-reduction-its-not-just-business-as-usual