This article was written with Dr. Howard Ramos, Western University, and Dr. Karen Foster, Dalhousie University. It was published online and in SaltWire newspapers on September 8, 2021.
Too often, politicians present the public with a false choice between economic stability and environmental protection. Stoking fears of job losses and income insecurity, they wield the economy as an excuse to maintain the status quo and delay on climate action.
This approach has led to regressive and short-sighted decisions such as investing $4.5 billion to save the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion on the belief that it is an “economic necessity.”
But, seeing the urgent necessity of climate action, Canadians no longer accept that the economy must take precedence over the environment. Record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events have made it hard to ignore the reality of the climate crisis. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms that human activities have caused rapid, intense changes to the global climate, threatening human lives and livelihoods. For good reason, the environment has become a top priority this federal election.
The mounting urgency of the climate crisis means the environment and the economy are no longer an either-or set of issues. Now, more Canadians than ever understand that there can be no thriving economy without a healthy environment.
Our recent survey on Perceptions of Environmental Change in Atlantic Canada shows this. People living in this region are highly attuned to — and deeply concerned about — changes in their local environment. Nearly three-quarters, 73 percent, have already noticed negative effects of climate change in their community, and 72 percent believe it is likely that they, personally, will be harmed by climate change in their lifetime.
Recognizing the heavy cost of inaction, Atlantic Canadians want to see more environmental leadership from the government. Seventy-five per cent agree or strongly agree that Canada should take a leading role in tackling climate change. Crucially, people are looking for this leadership, regardless of any potential economic cost, and most see it as an economic benefit.
Most Atlantic Canadians believe that, if environmental and economic considerations conflict, the environment must take precedence.
For example, 75 percent agree or strongly agree that the Canadian government must tackle climate change even if it is costly, and two-thirds (67 percent) disagree or strongly disagree with the idea that economic growth is more important than tackling climate change.
Most strikingly, Atlantic Canadians recognize that environmental action will be good for the economy in the long run — a consideration often ignored by politicians, who prioritize short-term achievements to win elections.
A supermajority of 79 percent agree or strongly agree that a transition to renewable energies will benefit the Canadian economy. In other words, as Atlantic Canadians confront the reality of climate change, only a dwindling minority of people accept the pitting of economic priorities against environmental ones. Like many debates, there is remarkably little polarization on this issue in Canada. Bold environmental policy is not only necessary — it is also popular.
These findings make sense given the growing popularity of the Green New Deal and similar proposals, which aim to address climate change in tandem with economic issues, especially job creation and income inequality. Although Canada’s major political parties have been slow to catch up, they are all beginning to get on board with the need for greater environmental leadership. There is reason to hope that ongoing public demand will continue to nudge politicians towards more robust environmental policy.
The public is eager for bold climate action. Most people recognize that Canada must embrace green technologies and alternative energy and want the climate crisis addressed. The old environment-or-economy argument no longer holds water. Atlantic Canadians are signalling that they are open to making long-overdue changes to ensure a viable and sustainable planet for the generations to come.
Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels
