Summary by: Sidonie Wittman and edited by the CSRC team.
We hosted our first Climate Conversation last Wednesday with Dr. Simon Donner, Co-Chair of the Net-Zero Advisory Body, for an informal discussion on the state of climate policy in Canada. 15 people joined us as we had to move indoors due to the rain, and attendants enjoyed homemade iced tea along with their lunches.
Prof. Donner began by explaining the origin and role of the Federal Net-Zero Advisory Board, which was created by the federal Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. This event allowed participants to learn about the complexity of climate work at the federal level. For example, we discussed the need for different climate policies designed to target different sources of emissions, and the challenges that can cause. Some policies may unintentionally interact and could potentially undermine each other’s effects.
Prof. Donner also pointed out that while working towards better climate policy is difficult, there are many people dedicating themselves to creating meaningful solutions. He argued that with the difficulty of creating policy, it is important to not let “perfect be the enemy of done”, and to prioritize creating action given the urgency of the climate emergency.
At our next Climate Conversation on July 24th, Join Kathy Harrison (Political Science) and Michael Brauer (Medicine) to learn more about the climate impacts of (liquid) natural gas in BC and globally, how the fossil fuel industry uses greenwashing to undermine climate action, and what can be done about it.