In a rush to not be outdone by the pushback of Prairie premiers Scott Moe’s and Danielle Smith on federal local weather insurance policies, federal Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre has usual his marketing campaign on the false premise that local weather motion makes life much less inexpensive for Canadians.
Whereas he’s on report that, as prime minister, he would remove the consumer-facing carbon worth, extra not too long ago he expanded his “axe the tax” marketing campaign to incorporate different federal local weather insurance policies, together with the clear gas and clear electrical energy laws. Whereas he has not definitively pronounced their demise ought to he type authorities, his current statements recommend a more in-depth ideological alignment with the Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers.
College students of conservative political historical past, nonetheless, will notice that local weather motion and political longevity are intertwined — and that Poilievre may need to rethink hitching his wagon to Prairie populists.
Setting apart for a second the truth that most Canadian voters need their authorities to each act on local weather change and put together Canada’s economic system to compete in a world shifting away from fossil fuels, there’s another excuse to concentrate to the worldwide financial transition towards a cleaner economic system: self-preservation.
Current long-lived conservatives have embraced local weather motion to form their economies towards industries that will likely be rising over the approaching many years. 4-term former German chancellor Angela Merkel led Germany by way of its inexperienced vitality transition to earn the title of “Local weather Chancellor” (whereas additionally incomes the title of the world’s strongest lady a report 14 occasions by Forbes).
Two-term republican California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger created the U.S.’s first state economy-wide cap on greenhouse gasoline emissions and the nation’s first legislated emission discount targets.
Right here in Canada, three-term B.C. premier Gordon Campbell instituted North America’s first revenue-neutral, economy-wide carbon tax, a mannequin that has been hailed by economists and replicated internationally. Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s second time period — in stark distinction to the start of his first time period — has more and more embraced clear vitality as firms trying to spend money on the province demand a clear electrical energy grid.
Different notable conservatives who’ve moved the agenda embody George H.W. Bush, who made authorized the requirement for Nationwide Local weather Evaluation Reviews whereas additionally requiring motion on the ozone gap and acid rain, and Boris Johnson, whose 10-Level Plan for a Inexperienced Industrial Revolution is nothing wanting an all-in wager that the UK can develop its industries, tackle local weather change and place the nation as a worldwide exporter of unpolluted items and companies.
The story right here is that profitable conservative leaders perceive that local weather motion is financial motion. The maths backs this up: between 2010 and 2019, 18 nations, many beneath conservative leaders, have pushed down emissions whereas rising their economies, in line with a current UN research.
The subsequent federal election will likely be fought over affordability — but additionally over Canada’s financial future.
The governing Liberals will level to billions of {dollars} of funding drawn to Canada in these industries that may thrive in a extra sustainable future. The Liberal endgame is evident: paint the Tories as champions of yesterday’s economic system, whereas the Liberals are investing in Canada’s future. Following season after season of wildfires, floods and droughts, this might not be a troublesome promote to the Canadian public.
The ball is within the federal Conservatives’ court docket. Quite a few industries past simply clear vitality — together with chemical substances, fertilizers, forest merchandise, mining and metal — are poised for progress in a net-zero future, however staying aggressive would require authorities motion. It’s going to require decarbonizing our electrical energy grid whereas aligning tax insurance policies, regulatory processes and authorities spending with clear progress.
This strategy aligns with the Conservatives’ personal coverage declarations of maximizing our value-add industries and making a extra globally aggressive economic system.
At its core, local weather motion is as conservative as it’s Canadian, as financial as it’s environmental. The selection earlier than Poilievre is merely a political one.
This publish initially appeared within the Ottawa Citizen.
