November 24: Five Things Happening in the Green Economy This Week

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. Click here to listen to this week's episode.

On top of all the additional news, research, and analysis covered in the podcast, here are five (other) things happening in the green economy this week:

1) BC Landslides and Flooding

British Columbia is under its second state of emergency due to extreme weather this year. Extreme rainfall has caused mudslides and flooding that have demolished homes and roads, isolated communities, and led to at least 4 deaths. Canada’s armed forces have been deployed, also for the second time this year, for rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The extreme weather, which is linked to climate change, is predicted to have caused more than $7.5 billion in damages.

2) US Electric Vehicle Tax Credit

A proposed electric-vehicle tax credit in the US is causing alarm for Canada’s auto sector. The proposal, which is currently moving through the US Congress, would offer big subsidies for electric vehicles so long as they are made in the US. Should the proposal go ahead, the policy could significantly undermine Canada’s electric vehicle producers, which are quickly scaling up and counting on fair access to the US market.  

3) Calgary city council declares a climate emergency

The City of Calgary is the latest major Canadian city to declare a climate emergency. Newly elected mayor, Jyoti Gondek, tabled the motion and led city council in a 13-to-2 vote in favour. The emergency declaration includes a requirement for the City to hit net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with national and industry targets, and enables the city to take aggressive action to hit those targets.

4) Ontario Auditor General’s new report

Ontario’s Auditor General released a scathing review of the current provincial government’s environmental practices earlier this week. Key findings include that the government has not implemented three quarters of its own climate commitments, that it “deliberately” neglects its responsibilities to consult and inform the public about environmental decisions, and that it is “automatically” approving development permits that harm species at risk.

5) Age of electric: Why Ontario rinks are slowly ditching their old ice resurfacers

Canada’s fleet of Zambonis is increasingly going electric. That’s according to a CBC investigation which finds that municipalities are attracted by the lower operating costs and the lower greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional fossil fuelled Zambonis. While cities like London and Mississauga have plans to fully convert their Zamboni fleet, Toronto stands out in the investigation as a city with a long way to go to decarbonize its roughly 100 Zambonis.

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.