BC green economy creates more jobs than oil sands
Readers of our recent “Big Grab” series on the oil sands might have noticed an interesting pair of statistics concerning jobs in Canada:
Our Canadian economy is starting to transition into a “peak CO2” economic reality. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has committed Canada to a declining CO2 economy, in sync with the United States. Our major trading partners are insisting ever more strongly that we stick to our pledges in this area. And, as the US ambassador to Australia pointed out recently, the United States has been working very hard over the last few years to roll out a whole suite of low-carbon policies. The results is that the Americans are on target to meet our shared pledge and are pulling ever farther ahead of Canadians in the race for low-carbon prosperity.
Meanwhile, BC has also been laying the groundwork for maximizing our wealth and jobs from each of those dwindling tonnes of CO2. We have introduced our own suite of low-carbon laws and policies, such as:
- Economy-wide BC Carbon Tax
- Mandate for 100% clean electricity from new sources
- Membership in a regional cap-and-trade called the Western Climate Initiative
- Mandates for carbon-neutral government
The BC economy now produces $2,500 per tonne of CO2. That is more per tonne than Canada or the USA generate. In our province we are ahead of the game. Green businesses contributed $15 billion to our provincial GDP in 2008 and green jobs are projected to grow to 225,000 in BC by the end of the decade.
In contrast, our neighbour Alberta continues to delay the work of transitioning their economy into one that can still produce rising prosperity during falling emissions of CO2. Alberta’s economy today produces just $760 per dwindling tonne of CO2.
As our nation’s economy encounters peak CO2, Alberta’s economy is under-prepared. They are in a deep hole and their options are growing fewer and more expensive with each day of continued delay. Whatever they eventually decide, it is very likely to cost them significantly more as a result of waiting so long to get started.
Maybe all this helps explain why our new Premier, Christy Clark, has increased her support for BC carbon policies the more she has looked into the details. Here is her most recent statement on this:
Open Letter to British Columbians from Premier Christy Clark
Building on BC’s Leadership in the Green Economy.
Over the past several years, BC has gained international recognition for being a leader on the green economy and taking strong, bold steps to reduce our carbon footprint. We have set legislated targets to reduce our carbon emissions 33% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. And we, as a province, have taken strong, bold steps to achieve them.
When I took office on March 14th, there were important decisions on my plate:
• Do we follow the path that has been laid out through 2012 on the carbon tax?
• Do we continue to be engaged with other provinces and states in developing policies to reduce carbon emissions?
In both cases, the answer is yes. It’s in BC’s interests to be leading change in order to leverage our bountiful supply of renewable resources and clean energy, and, more importantly, our expertise and creativity in adapting to a greener economy.
Climate change is having a major impact on BC, whether it is the devastation of our forests by the mountain pine beetle, the impact on our water supply due to melting glaciers, or extreme weather events. Governments, communities, and businesses around the world are confronting climate change, some places more than others, but there is unquestionably a movement taking place that is changing the way our economy works.
BC is on the leading edge of the new, green economy – a decision that was reinforced by the electorate in the 2009 election when it made a choice to elect a government committed to moving ahead with courageous climate change policies.
New green jobs being are being created and cleaner technology is being utilized … BC is seen as a leader in the new green economy.
Where do we go from here?
The carbon tax has put a price on carbon, while returning that revenue back to individuals and businesses through tax cuts. The purpose is to provide, over time, an incentive for individuals and businesses to reduce carbon use. To date, we have cut more taxes than the amount collected by the carbon tax.
In the future, I am open to considering using the carbon tax to support regional initiatives, such as public transit. If we go this route, we must ensure that the allocation of carbon tax revenue respects regions and communities so that one region is not subsidizing investments in another.
We will continue to play a leadership role through the Western Climate Initiative to design a cap and trade system that works for our environment and our economy. Cap and trade requires the participation of trading partners, and BC will work with California and other participating jurisdictions, while consulting extensively with stakeholders in BC.
As we go forward, one thing is for certain: we will work to achieve our targets to reduce carbon emissions and continue to be a leader in North America on the green economy. Not in a vacuum, but by working together with British Columbian families, communities, and businesses.
Premier Christy Clark
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(3) Comments
Kudos on the jobs B.C. but don't forget that we here in Alberta also have high inflation rates from the tarsands, essentially hurting all Albertans not employed in the industry. Moreover, our tarsands industry is helping to turn the Canadian dollar into a petro currency, hurting the rest of the Canadian manufacturing industry. Be glad you live in B.C. because the Albertan government talks the climate change talk but refuses to walk the walk and its regressive policies will spell even more future pain for Albertans.
Green jobs include: iron and steel workers, millwrights, sheet metal workers, machinists, construction equipment operators, truck drivers, industrial production managers, installation helpers, labourers and construction managers. CO2 emissions do not include all sources are a specifically designed to track CO2 from Fossil emissions only and ignore for example wood, flooded land and many other sources which often exceed emissions from fossil fuel use, Indonesia’s burning of peat and other forest practices by many countries are good examples. Many "green" projects include destruction of the environment, slaughter of animals and unsustainable practices. The installation of “Wind Farms” is but one example but one everyone should already know.
The numbers being used for comparison are political, rather than scientific, though they can be used effectively as shown in this article.
Wind farms and even hydraulic generating stations can only exist within a carbon based economy. Without the carbon/nuclear production of electricity the cost to the consumer would be far beyond what any average person could afford. Unless of course they give up their 100amp and in most houses today 200amp services and return to the days of their grandparent’s 30amp services. Steady reliable power would only be available to the wealthy. And it would only be the wealthy who could afford such luxuries as refrigerated milk in the home. This is not just a scare fact it is a reality of what is being proposed by those who would end our use of fossil fuel, provided they could end it as peacefully as they claim.
The reality is Canada is completely insignificant to global CO2 production. Our large land mass and cold oceans sink far more CO2 than we could ever produce. The fact is we are less than one half of one percent of the world’s population and if the rest of the world would follow our example and live within the carbon allotment of their own country the world would not have a CO2 problem.
When it comes to CO2 it matters little what Canada does. The decision is up to Asia and I would suggest we follow their lead by supporting them in whatever steps they take by trying to match our policies to theirs while encouraging them to live within their natural CO2 allotment. Even though we are a net negative carbon producer I think our new power plants should have to meet their standards. It will help us be a fair trading partner and support the world largest carbon producer to reduce their impact on the planet.
We should take the initiative rather than wait for others to make the decisions. Way to go Ms Clark