The green transition, federalism, and policy durability
Author
Faculty Advisor
Date
2024
Keywords
green transition, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), sustainable transition, Canadian federalism
Abstract (summary)
A green transition represents a massive undertaking for society and governments that has not been seen since the end of the Second World War. This has led to calls for an approach similar to the Marshall Plan-the massive economic investment by the United States to rebuild the European economy and stabilize the political situation after the Second World War-to drive the shift to a low-carbon future. While almost all governments have developed policies in the areas of climate and sustainability, it is essential to assess the extent to which these actions can truly drive a sustainable transition.
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government have committed in legislation to reduce the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero by 2050. The Trudeau government overcame decades of regional acrimony to implement policies that would achieve this goal. The plan-including a price on carbon that will rise to $170 per tonne by 2030-has been lauded by experts as the first credible attempt by a Canadian government to live up to its climate change commitments. The key question is whether this policy architecture will have long-term durability, surviving changes in political and economic conditions, as it must be maintained and potentially expanded over the coming decades. This is far from a sure thing as provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario have been opposed, and the federal opposition Conservatives have promised to jettison these policies if they form the next government. This chapter will investigate the resilience of the policies in place to assess the likelihood that they can drive a sustainable transition across Canadian governments.
Publication Information
Boyd, B. (2024). The Green Transition, Federalism, and Policy Durability. In D. L. VanNijnatten (Ed.), Canadian Environmental Policy and Politics (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
DOI
Notes
Item Type
Book Chapter
Language
Rights
All Rights Reserved