Federalism and Environmental Action

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Federalism and Environmental Action

Introduction

At a time when consumerism and lifestyle patterns are determined by globalization orientation at all levels of personal and corporate, outlook effective environmental management is the most critical concept in enhancing sustainable development. This has been undermined by climate change that is implicated for steering global warming and the relative environmental degradation. Western countries have been blamed for the increasing temperatures and subsequent climate change. Their industries release huge volumes of carbon dioxide and other green house gases like methane to the atmosphere. Further, they have been blamed for pollution of underground water resources through solid waste disposal. Of great concern has been their pollution of water resources using industrial wastes and injecting heavy metals in the deep sea bed.

While some have implemented policies to curb the practice, Canada lags behind and lacks a distinct policy to address this issue. This can be attributed to various issues that range from lack of political will to poor governance and inappropriate policy formulation. Its counterparts like the United States have adopted clear environmental laws and policies that govern their industrial activities. Critics contend that its efforts in enforcing sustainable a sustainable environmental policy have been very minimal. It is in this consideration that this paper provides a clear comparison of three articles. These seek to underscore the effort of the government with regards to implementing a viable environmental action plan. Notably, this would contribute towards the global efforts of reducing emission of carbon and other green house gases that undermine the quality of the environment.

Janice Mackinnon “The Green Shift”

In his analysis, Mackinnon (2008) attributes the loss of the liberals to the Green shift policy that sought to introduce carbon tax to oil refining industry and the wholesalers involved in the business. Various concerns were raised by different groups of individuals about the implications of the policy especially to the Western Canada that could reportedly be hit the hardest. The precautionary concerns that were presented to the party before the election were ignored by the Liberals. This culminated in widespread public distrust of the liberal party especially by the westerners. Mackinnon (2008) noted that although the party partly relied on the various presumptions made by scholars, it did not heed the cautionary measures that the same had proposed.

Essentially, the Green shift proposes that income taxes be shifted to carbon as a measure of pricing the same and reducing emissions of green house gases. In addition, it proposed a distribution of income among regions and groups of populations. This had diverse implications on the balance between the provincial and state governments. Although it is indicated that part of the money was expected to be returned to the tax payers, it is posited that only an insignificant thirty percent of this was channeled to reduction of poverty and enhancement of child care. Notably, regional inequalities had been initially cited by various scholars to be at the center stage of any carbon tax policy.

The scholars who came up with the idea contended that this tax would ensure that the individuals that polluted the environment pay for the resultant environmental costs. Further, they cited that this policy would impact more on the regions that produce more oil than those that did not. As such, measures needed to be undertaken to reduce the inherent inequality.

One of the proposed counter measures was for the federal government to enforce a similar price across the region. Most importantly, it was proposed that the consumers, rather than the retailers and producers should pay for the environmental costs because of the fact that they use the produce more wastes to the environment than the latter. Notably, the liberal party did not address this concerns and this contributed significantly to their loss in the 2008 elections. Besides having massive impacts on the westerners, The British Columbia could have suffered immensely. This is because by then, it was struggling to pay a provincial carbon tax.

This experience has been cited to be a classic example of the implications of not involving the provinces in policy formulations at the state level. If it could have been implemented, this would have implied that British Columbia needed to pay double taxes. The liberal party had been advised to ensure that the federal government partners with its provincial counterparts in enforcement of this policy. Just like the federal government, provincial jurisdictions had the authority to enforce environmental legislation. The collaboration would prevent conflicts as any difference between the two bodies would be reconciled before policy enforcement. The failure of the liberal party to heed this led to the widespread public distrust in its mode of governance.

Seemingly, other provinces that were not directly affected by this such as Manitoba did not support the liberal ideology. Basically, they felt that the party was insensitive to the specific needs of the population in the west. At this juncture, Mackinnon (2008) ascertains that the liberals need to begin by restoring the lost trust in the Western provinces before they can think of running for elections again.

Pembina Institute/David Suzuki “Report Recommendations damaging to West and All Canadians

In this article, the author contends that the initial report underestimates the implications of the proposed policy on the economy of the westerners and the Canadian economy as a whole. These pertain to the proposed policy suggestions that seek to reduce green house gas production by the region. It indicates that as much as viable measures need to be adopted to reduce the emission of green house gases, these should not negatively affect certain parts of the population. This is compounded by the fact that the related implications are likely to have permanent effects on the welfare of this population In particular, it maintains that regional differences need to be accorded utmost attention through appreciation and accommodation.

Pembina Institute/David Suzuki “Climate Leadership

This report begins by appreciating the scientific fact that there is dire need to reduce carbon emission in order to curb global warming that has detrimental effects on human welfare. It also appreciates that a significant amount of the emissions are attributable to industrialized countries including Canada. It cites that the Canadian government is committed to making vital policy changes in order to cut its emissions by 20-25% by 2020. Analysis of these presumptions indicated that indeed, Canada has the capacity to achieve these goals and still enjoy significant economic growth, improved quality of life and increased job creation. In order to achieve this, the government needs to enforce stricter policies than the ones being utilized presently.

Some of the suggested options include enforcing a carbon price across the economy coupled with public investments and strong complementary regulations. Specific target areas would be Alberta and Saskatchewan that are notable for producing huge emissions through burning petroleum and production of coal fired electricity. The report projected that Canada’s Gross Domestic product would increase by twenty seven per cent even after the implementation of the carbon reduction policy. Likewise, it posits that the creation of new jobs is likely to grow at 10.7 percent while creating close to 1.86 million jobs. Comparatively, this is higher than the jobs created under normal conditions.

The main technologies that would be employed in achieving this include: use of cleaner energy in the place of fossil fuels; large-scale employment of renewable energy such as solar and wind; enhancing energy efficiency in various sectors including conditioning and transport reducing the percentage of fugitive emissions that are mainly released from and fills and oils and gas industry and finally capturing and storing the carbon dioxide that is released by the gas and oil industry. The country also seeks to reduce the international volumes through purchase of the same. This is due to the recognition that credible reduction of Green House Gases is likely to generate international benefits.

The carbon pricing policy that is presented in this policy stipulates that the emitters need to pay for each tonne that they release in the atmosphere. This would be done through payment of emission tax or buying the emission allowances that are auctioned by the government. Half of the generated income would then be distributed to the population through reduction of their income tax. The remaining would be directed to funding public investments that seek to reduce green house gases and to protect the global competitiveness of the country by cushioning the manufacturing companies that are vulnerable.

At this juncture, it can be appreciated that all articles provide useful insights with that highlight the efforts of the Canadian government in developing a sound environmental policy. To begin with, all articles appreciate the fact that carbon emission in the atmosphere has reached dangerous levels that require each country to take legal measures to control the same. It is ascertained that the countries in the developed world are responsible for massive emission of green house gases. Canada acknowledges the fact that its industrial activities contribute significantly to the green house gases. As such, there is need to adopt policies to help reverse the situation and save the planet of the far reaching implications of climate change and global warming. In addition, all articles acknowledge that the western provinces are likely to be the worst hit by any policy that seeks to address this problem. This is because they emit more volumes of green house gases in the atmosphere than their counterparts.

In both articles, the emission tax is presented as one of the most effective and sustainable options of controlling carbon emission. This is characterized by introducing a carbon price as way of reducing emission. However the two authors that evaluate this assume different approaches. Zahran, Brody and Vedlitz (2008) cite that in the article presented by Mackinnon, the liberal party fails to incorporate various easier that would address the critical issue of inequality that is likely to emanate from this. This is irrespective of the fact that it was informed well in advance by scholars and other critics. This led to their loss in the elections as most of their supporters lost trust in their ideologies. The policy would have massive impacts on the wellbeing of the western provinces. However, other provinces that there unaffected voted against them because of their lack of sensitivity on issues that affected the population. This implied that the reduction of carbon emissions is a sensitive issue that would require various intricate and integrated approaches to deal with the same in an effective manner (Blake, Neil & Peter, 2007).

Both articles present the preposition that rather than the producers and the wholesalers, the consumers of the carbon products should bear the burden of the carbon price. They both contend that proceeds from this need to be employed in reducing the income tax of populations. However, unlike Mackinnon (2008), Bramley, Pierre and Dale (2009) provide a more elaborate way of using the proceeds from the carbon tax. Notably, the carbon reduction initiatives as presented by the latter would be used in reducing the levels of green house gases in the atmosphere. It would be a rewarding form of employment that would enable population to earn an income. In addition, the later report incorporates the issue of making the tax uniform that was previously avoided by the liberals.

Unlike Mackinnon (2008), Bramey et al (2009) also presents to the audience alternative and sustainable forms of energy as well as policies and regulations that would supplement and complement the efforts of the tax policy. Comparatively, Blake et al (2007) contends that this can be considered a better approach that employs multiple approaches to address a complex environmental issue. The report by Bramey et al (2009) also provides the reader with a review of the economic implications of the carbon tax policy and argues that if implemented, it would even yield more benefits than the current condition. This presumption is accredited with factual statistical evidence. This is a challenge to the Canadian government and the governments of other developed countries to weigh the costs and benefits of the policy and implement viable options accordingly.

Conclusion

From the review, it is certain that the environmental degradation and global warming is being contributed to by the massive emissions that stem from industrial activity. Implementation of relevant policies in Canada has been stalled by various complexities that are politically instigated. In order to achieve optimal results, there is need for this government to adopt the approach presented by Bramey et al (2009) as it reconciles the previous gaps and provides a more elaborate and distinct approach to addressing environmental pollution and global warming in a sustainable manner. Considering the fact that it has significant benefits, governments at all levels need to adopt its provisions. This would be instrumental in reducing the levels of carbon in the atmosphere and enhancing economic development at the same time.

References

Blake, D., Neil, G. & Peter, A. (2007). Environmental Action in Canada. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 5, 68-91.

Bramley, M., Pierre, S. & Dale, M. (2009). Climate leadership, Economic Prosperity. Final Report on an Economic Study of Greenhouse Gas Targets and Policies for Canada. Pembina Institute and David Suzuki Foundation, 2009.

MacKinnon, J. (2008). “The Green Shift, the Liberals, and the West.” Policy Options, November, 34-39.

Zahran, S., Brody, S. & Vedlitz, A. (2008). Climate Change Vulnerability. Society and Natural Resources, 19, 770-90.

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