The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy

Progressive Dialogue and Policy for a Better Canada

Environmental Stewardship & Sustainable Economies – Cheung

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August 23, 2019

Environmental Stewardship & Sustainable Economies – Cheung

By By Yuk-kuen Annie Cheung

The Pearson Centre has invited various leading thinkers to contribute their ideas towards the Progressive Platform to generate good ideas for debate in this general election. The views expressed here are those of the writer. We thank the writers for putting forward their ideas for this important project.
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Overcoming Short-termism: Key to Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Economies

By Yuk-kuen Annie Cheung PhD, RPP

 Recently I was asked if I would give further consideration to earlier articles I have written for the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy on the subject of climate change. This request has set off a myriad of private thoughts, especially at this juncture, and a renewed sense of purpose in searching for a better way to engage in a topic that has defined much of my own academic journey. Climate change adaptation is a journey of problem-solving that depends on both endurance and Olympian discipline. Any set-backs therefore need to be treated as lessons learned and only a temporary detour.

 Climate change adaptations do not depend on political sloganeering. The rise in the frequency of governance problems stemming from extreme weather events is evident around the world. We have witnessed new temperature records, large scale flooding, loss of farming capacities, habitat destruction, and mass migration triggered by loss of livelihood. The Insurance Bureau of Canada maintains that catastrophic losses in Canada related to climate change have cost insurers an average of CAD 1.8 billion annually from 2009 to 2018.  Climate change effects already have had numerous negative impacts.

 Important then to understand the huge, and scale-able, benefits to the global economy from climate change issues and the modalities for climate change adaptation. Soon after the successful 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change Mitigation meeting, a  2017 study estimated the annual global abatement costs for achieving the agreement’s unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) at USD 135 billion by 2030. Investing in the climate change adaptation economy offers many opportunities in that its yields are growing and its benefits could reach beyond national borders. Investing in strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gases, for example, contributes to better air quality, generates better prospects for slowing the dangerous rise of temperature, and reduces extreme weather events. A better understanding of correlating climate factors also builds knowledge, supports development of new techniques and technologies, innovation and inventions that can be applied in many parts of the world. All these endeavours are generators of new economic scenarios, creating life style adaptation and employment opportunities that are beyond the scope of any current boundary of the imagination. Environmental stewardship brings jobs too!

 In a properly functioning democracy, public agendas are supposed to be influenced by public opinions. A recent poll commissioned by the CBC indicates Canadians are mostly concerned about climate change effects and are willing to contribute to solving the problem with life style change, such as driving less, taking public transit or riding bicycles. However, the political climate elsewhere in the world is less supportive. This is important because climate change adaptation is a global commons issue. The success of its outcome depends on collective effort and sustained buy-in at a global level, underpinned by long-term allocation of resources.

 In recent years we have witnessed a rapid roll-back of federal environmental protection provisions in the US. In addition, in 2017 President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from participation in the Paris Agreement. Clearly as the generosity quotient drops, so does public confidence in the United States and its international prestige. These are factors that the Presidency has so far taken entirely for granted.

 The tragedy of our global commons lies, not in the failures of any one person of power, but rather in the danger of a climate change emergency arising from an unabated rise of political cronyism that has insulated corrupt governments from the public trust. Governments, under the pretext of national interests, have abandoned international norms and rules of global engagement on forging transnational solutions, pulled back from international commitments and turned inward. Governments have failed to adequately balance the needs of wealth-generation / generators with the importance of promoting equality of opportunity for more broad-based, inclusive and ultimately more sustainable growth. In the ruling culture of cupidity, climate change considerations are not being given a fair hearing. Omens of climate change condemn the poor mostly, especially those who have limited mobility and representation. Responsibilities for protecting the weak and saving lives lie squarely in the hands of responsible governments. Is that responsibility being taken seriously these days?

 Since mitigation measures rely on appropriate and sustained funding, the participation of the financial sector in fostering sound investment and solutions to climate change emergencies is key. This should be a relatively easy task. Climate change adaptation ultimately is a long game, requiring multi-generational efforts to look for solutions, addressing problems with strategies incrementally. This sustained process also rests on continued dialogue among all stakeholders of which financial institutions are a major component. In a mature democracy such as Canada, elected officials have a central role in setting the big picture and steering the country towards a sustainable path.

 As citizens and voters, we ought to demand of our elected leadership both a suitable generosity of spirit and an even temperament, ever mindful of the knock-on effects they possess in everyday political decisions which ripple through our economy and every aspect of the communal life.

 In treating this patient of global climate change — the earth — we need a strong dosage of collective awakening. We need to override the prevailing short-termism. Our democratic framework should ideally help us to hold our elected officials to account, as well as keep our bureaucracy and our systems of governance competent, honest and respectable. Addressing climate change challenges depends on this. The long-term sustainability of our economies and livelihoods also depends on this. What we need now is an all hands on deck!

About the author: Dr. Yuk-kuen Annie Cheung is a contributor and co-editor of Introduction to Sustainable Development,a UNESCO publication. https://www.eolss.net/ebooklib/ebookcontents/E1-45-ThemeContents.pdf