Why has innovation in the digital electronics market far outstripped progress in the clean energy sectors?
While Session 1 raised the issue of faltering innovation in Canada, Session 2 speakers (Dr. Richard Newell, Duke University; Dr. Richard Hawkins, University of Calgary; Dr. Nick Johnstone, OECD Structural Policy Division; and Geoff McCarney, PhD candidate at Columbia University and Sustainable Prosperity’s Research Director) shed light on why this has occurred and how it can be corrected by examining the links between public policy and clean innovation.
“We are moving towards a global economy that increasingly will reward companies that are low-polluting, energy-efficient, eco-innovative and use natural capital more productively.” With this remark Stewart Elgie opened the conference, explaining that in order to compete internationally, Canadian companies will have to be better than their competitors at lowering their environmental footprint. And to do that requires accelerating the pace at which we develop and adopt clean innovations.
This Issue Summary is based on recent work conducted by Sustainable Prosperity that categorizes environmental taxes in Canada based on their goals and objectives.
With renewed interest in climate policy – driven by the Paris climate meetings in December and increased focus from provincial governments on climate action - Sustainable Prosperity has prepared two briefing notes summarizing the state of knowledge and practice on carbon pricing.
A diverse group of prominent leaders has written to Premiers in advance of their Climate Summit in Quebec City to applaud their initiative and offer their support in advancing the pragmatic policies needed to help Canada capture critical low carbon economy opportunities.
Responding to climate change will require some significant changes in where investments flow in our economy.
