Every two weeks, Mike Moffatt, Senior Director at SPI, explores five things to watch in the green economy in a segment for Smart Prosperity: The Podcast.

Here are five things happening in the green economy this week:

1) Alberta and Saskatchewan will be Canada’s fastest adopters of renewable energy through to 2023, according to a new report from Canada’s Energy Regulator. The short-term forecast shows the two provinces' renewable electricity capacity growing to 26 percent and 33 percent respectively, while Ontario’s production is forecasted to slow down.

2) The world's largest banks have financed fossil fuels to the tune of $3.8 trillion since 2015, showing that the finance sector is mis-aligned with the international direction on climate. That’s according to a new report by a group of climate organizations. Four Canadian banks cracked the top 20 worst offenders.

3) Delegates at the recent Conservative Party of Canada convention voted against language that acknowledged “climate change is real”. Party leader Erin O’Toole was forced to defend his position on the issue and continues to promise a “serious and comprehensive” climate plan in due course.

4) Lion Electric announced it will build a battery manufacturing plant in Quebec. The factory, which will cost $185 million and be supported by Quebec and federal governments, will manufacture lithium-ion battery packs and modules to support Canada’s growing electric vehicle manufacturing industry.

5) Oxford Economics forecasts that electric vehicles will make up 44% of global sales by 2030. By the middle of the decade, electric vehicles are forecast to be cheaper than their gas counterparts, which will drive up adoption rates.

Listen to the full segment, and plenty of other great content, in today's new episode of Smart Prosperity: The Podcast. Our podcast provides fresh takes on the current affairs, politics, research and business of the clean economy. New episodes posted every two weeks.