After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

THE BIG GRAB Part 6: Falling Behind

Canada has fallen steadily behind the U.S. and other countries in maximizing wealth per tonne of climate pollution. That's putting our future prosperity -- and costs -- on the line.

The foundation of future prosperity in a low-carbon economy is to maximize wealth per limited tonne of CO2 (tCO2). In 1990, according to Environment Canada, both the American and Canadian economies created the same wealth per tCO2.

Not anymore.

Falling behind the U.S. 

In the last couple of decades, our Canadian economy has fallen steadily behind the U.S. in maximizing wealth per tCO2, which is needed to build the foundation for prosperity in a lower-carbon future1:

  • CO2 pollution jumped 70 per cent faster in Canada than USA.
  • CO2 per person went up in Canada while Americans’ went down.
  • Canada now makes fewer dollars per tCO2 than the U.S.

 

Here’s where we are now vs the U.S.:

  • Both Canada and the U.S. emit ~22 tCO2 per person.
  • Both nations have equal, and linked, CO2 reduction targets.
  • Canadians now make $230 less per tCO2 = $5,000 less per person

 

Losing to other nations

Canada is the second-worst performer out of the 17 economies in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, in both tCO2 per person and in creating wealth per tCO2. A few examples of this gap:

  • The U.S. makes $230 more per tCO2
  • Brazil: $350 more
  • Japan: $1,800 more
  • U.K.:  $2,000 more
  • Norway: $5,500 more

 

Low-carbon prosperity or bust

According to recent U.S. Energy Information Agency data, Canada’s economy today produces about $48,000 and emits 22 tCO2 per person. At some point in the next two or three decades, we will have to cut our climate pollution per person by half.

Here is what you get today for 11 tCO2:

  • $23,800 via Canadian economy
  • $26,100 via U.S. economy
  • $41,000 via German economy
  • $60,000 via French economy
  • $82,000 via Swedish economy
  • $7,000 via oil sands2

 

Sinking in an expanding tar pit

The oil sands are the only industrial sector in Canada whose emissions are getting significantly worse3. They are poised to go from four per cent in 2005 to 18 per cent of our national allotment by 2020. And yet they deliver so little wealth and jobs per appropriated tCO2.

Taking all that extra CO2 allocation from one part of our economy and giving it to the oil sands without making them pay for it will create some jobs and wealth for the oil sands. But only about one per cent of Canadians, almost all of them in Alberta, will benefit, while many more stand to be hurt by it. As they say, it's nice work if you can get it.

Because this unfunded Big Grab by the oil sands requires Canadians in the wider and more productive-per-tonne economy to cover the costs and reduce so much more rapidly, it risks eliminating more jobs and wealth than it creates. It also creates the risk of our economy falling farther behind the U.S. and other partner nations in future prosperity as our economy’s allotment of CO2 eventually shrinks.

More in Canada

The joy of giving

Science is now providing the evidence for what we have long held to be true: that it is better to give than to receive.

Amazing photos of September in Vancouver

Take a look back at September captured through the lenses of our VO Flickr Pool contributors.

A young Iranian helps Syrian refugees adjust to Canada

A young Iranian, himself, new to Canada reaches out to help Syrian refugees settle here. But with the war in Syria, tensions between Iranians and Syrians are rising. How will he succeed?
Speak up about this article on Facebook or Twitter. Do this by liking Vancouver Observer on Facebook or following us @Vanobserver on Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.