Smart Prosperity: The Podcast

Are electric vehicles at a tipping point?The price of gasoline is spiking and suddenly so is demand for electric vehicles. Though Canada has been behind its peers when it comes to EV adoption, with only 5% of new vehicle purchases being electric in 2021, that could change quickly. Are we at a tipping point? This episode shares the latest data on market trends, cost comparisons, supply shortages, charging installation and equity issues. With: Joanna Kyriazis (Clean Energy Canada) & Jonathan Rubin (University of Maine).For more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

How did solar get so cheap?This episode comes courtesy of the smart folks at Energy vs. Climate podcast. Solar energy is the good news story of the 21st century so far. How did a clean energy technology drop from costing 105 dollars per watt of electricity down to just 20 cents over the span of a few decades? And how can other clean technologies ride the same curve? Here the team at Energy vs. Climate – Ed Whittingham, Sara Hastings-Simon and David Keith – interview the guy who wrote the book on it. For more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Canada's conservative party is back to the drawing board to come up with a climate plan. What does a credible conservative climate agenda look like in 2022? Is carbon pricing part of the package? Conservative insider Ken Boessenkool talks about the state of his party and how to mend a climate rift spreading in the rank and file. w/ Ken Boessenkool (Conservatives for Clean Growth).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Despite being the world's second-biggest cause of climate change, most projections tell us that oil can be part of a climate friendly future. How so? The answer lies in a technology called Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage - or CCUS. But not everyone agrees that CCUS is a climate solution. This episode hears from both sides of the debate, and whether or not CCUS should be getting favourable treatment in Canada through a proposed investment tax credit. w/  Susannah Pierce (Shell Canada), Ed Whittingham (Energy vs. Climate) & Christina Hoicka (Univ. of Victoria).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Phew, we did it, one more year of survival for the human race! To celebrate, we bring you the best and worst of the green economy in 2021. Four of Canada's top journalists join host Eric Campbell for a fun retrospective on the year's top stories: the triumphs, the failures, the surprises and the cruel ironies. And, because there's a lot riding on the next calendar year, we also dabble in some predictions for 2022. Guests: Heather Scoffield (Toronto Star), Adam Radwanski (The Globe and Mail), Mia Rabson (The Canadian Press) & Shawn McCarthy (Freelance) For info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

The post-covid fossil fuels boomDon't look now but the world is in a fossil fuels boom. As the economy bounces back from covid-19, the global demand for oil, gas and coal is skyrocketing. Yet didn't international leaders just make new climate pledges that promise to cut out these fossil fuels? How do we make sense of this contradiction? How long will the fossil fuel boom last? And will it send our climate goals out of reach?Guests: Tim Gould (Chief Energy Economist, IEA), Jackie Forrest (Executive Director, Arc Energy) & Aaron Cosbey (Sr. Associate, IISD)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Are your savings fuelling climate change?Canadians are sitting on record levels of savings. These household savings are being leveraged, in turn, by banks and pension funds to make major investments. But what kinds of investments? Are your savings being used to finance major fossil fuel projects? What is your bank and your pension fund doing with your savings behind your back? w/ Barbara Zvan (President and CEO at University Pension Plan) & Toby Heaps (Publisher & Editor-in-Chief at Corporate Knights).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca 

How to spend $2-trillion on climate changeA new report says it will cost $2 trillion for Canada to transition to net-zero carbon pollution by 2050. What does the money get spent on? Who's going to pay? How big is the return on investment? And what does Canada's biggest bank plan to do about it? w/ John Stackhouse (RBC)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Catherine McKenna on the upcoming Glasgow climate talksCanada's former environment minister takes us behind the scenes of the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Glasgow: what are the big issues, who are the key players, who's doing the arm twisting, who's getting their arms twisted, and can the international community get the job done.  w/ Catherine McKenna (Canada's second longest-serving environment minister)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Why the housing crisis is an environmental problem Canada's severe housing shortage is driving up prices for wannabe renters and homeowners. Yes it's an economic and equity problem, but is it also an environmental problem? On this episode, three experts expose the environmental angles of the housing crisis, including how it fuels urban sprawl, stifles the green workforce and shortchanges Canada's cleantech sector. With: Tim Gray (Environmental Defence), Hannah Teicher (Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions) & Mike Moffatt (Smart Prosperity Institute)For more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Is climate change a ballot box issue? With Canada's 44th federal election looming, we dig deep into Canadian attitudes on climate change. How high a priority is it for Canadians? Is that being reflected in the various leadership campaigns? How have Canadian attitudes evolved over the past ten years? And how do we explain the seismic shift in party positions on the issue? w/ David Coletto (Abacus Data)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

A conversation with Katharine Hayhoe Katharine Hayhoe is the most influential climate scientist on the planet. She's also one of the most plain-spoken and down-to-earth. On this episode, she sits down with Eric Campbell to talk about conservative America, the UN's new climate report, her new book, and why she wants you to talk to your friends about climate change.  w/ Katharine Hayhoe (Climate scientist extraordinaire, too many affiliations to list here)For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

The carbon footprint of cryptocurrency What do Sweden, Argentina, Norway, Belgium, Ukraine and Chile have in common? They all consume less electricity in one year than Bitcoin does. Yes, Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency that is shaking up the financial world, is a massive energy hog. In fact, Bitcoin “miners” have been responsible for bringing retired coal and natural gas plants back online in order to satisfy their energy needs. Why is Bitcoin so dirty? Can cryptocurrencies go green?  Guest: Alex de Vries - Economist and founder of Digconomist.comFor more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

The environmental impacts of space tourism Who has the greener rocket, Jeff Bezos or Sir Richard Branston? Or is it Elon Musk's Space X?! From the rocket fuel to the emissions to the material waste, we ask what the rise of space tourism means for climate change and the environment here on Planet Earth. With astrophysicist Dr. Parshati Patel  (University of Western) & atmospheric scientist Dr. Eloise Marais (University College London).For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

The high price of wildfires It's the middle of July and hundreds of deadly wildfires are already on our doorsteps, many of them being described by authorities as out of control. This is the kind of runaway “megafire” season scientists have been warning about. Can we afford it? From paying for migrant firefighters to covering billions in insurance claims, this episode looks at what wildfires cost us.  With Edward Struzik, Author of "Firestorm: How Wildfire will Shape our Future".More info and links at: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

The costs of extreme heat As temperature records were melted around the world over the past few weeks, what do we now know about the costs of extreme heat to our economy, our critical infrastructure and our health? w/ Sarah Gibbens (National Geographic), Jan Polderman (Village of Lytton), Rick Smith (Canadian Institute for Climate Choices)More info and links at: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Paying for nature Everybody agrees we should protect more nature. But nature protection doesn't come cheap. Experts warn that Canada and the world have a multi-billion dollar funding gap. Here are 3 experts on how to close that gap by drawing in capital from unusual suspects.For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

COVID's environmental impact The drop in global economic activity due to COVID has had some upsides for the environment. But how big have those upsides been? And how long will they last? The brainiacs at the OECD have some new answers.  With Rob Dellink from the OECD.10 green technologies to watchWe're going to need the help of new and exciting green technologies if we want to keep climate change in check. Here are ten smart bets. With Tyler Hamilton from MaRS Discovery District. For more info and links, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Provincial climate report cards [min 1:03]The federal government sets the international targets, but it's Canada's provinces that have the primary jurisdiction over reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Have we been letting them off the hook?  w/  Shawn McCarthyTrouble in BC's old growth forests [min 12:28]Forestry is one of Canada's oldest economic sectors. But with protests bubbling up across British Columbia, we get a balanced look at what needs to happen for the sector to evolve. w/ Gary Merkel, co-chair of BC's Old Growth Review PanelFor more info and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

What big business really thinks about climate actionThere's a romance a-brewing between big business and strong climate action. But how deep is the love?  Interview with Goldy Hyder from the Business Council of Canada.Oil workers planning a career changeA union representing Canadian oil and gas workers just came out in favour of more ambitious climate targets. What gives? Interview with Joie Warnock from Unifor. For more info and links, go to podcast.smartprosperity.ca

Green recovery from COVID?Fifteen months in to COVID-19, countries around the world have spent trillions on relief, corporate bail-outs and economic stimulus. Is that spending putting us on pace for a green recovery, or a historically dirty one? Canada's new X-Prize winner Two weeks ago, Nova Scotia's Carbon Cure took home the top prize in X-Prize's latest $20-million competition. Jennifer Wagner talks about the company's unique technology that plugs carbon pollution into concrete.  For more info and links, go to podcast.smartprosperity.ca

To divest or not to divest? The fossil fuel divestment movement is gaining momentum around the world. But is taking pension and personal investment money out of the oil and gas sector having the desired effect?The second-hand clothing economy Look out, this isn't your mom and dad's neighbourhood thrift store! The second-hand clothing market is set to hit $64 billion by 2024. And it's a critical foil for the massive environmental impacts of fast fashion. More info and links at: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.   Is this the end of carbon tax politics? [min 1:08]Last week, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the federal government's right to enforce a minimum price on greenhouse gas emissions. Four political insiders and one lawyer that argued the case consider the ramifications.  Gerry Butts – Vice Chairman of Eurasia Group & Former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Justin TrudeauKen Boessenkool – Professor at the Max Bell School, McGill University & Former Chief of Staff to BC Premier Christy Clark and Former Advisor to Prime Minister Stephen HarperDianne Saxe – Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario & Former Environmental Commissioner of OntarioBrian Topp – Founding Partner at GT & Company, & Former Chief of Staff to Alberta Premier Rachel NotleyStewart Elgie – Executive Chair at Smart Prosperity Institute & Counsel representing the Ecofiscal Commission at the Supreme Court2.   How close is “carbon removal” to reality? [min 9:45]World-leading expert, Dr. Jennifer Wilcox, shares the price tag for removing carbon from the air, and what needs to happen for costs to come down. And then a Canadian carbon removal innovator shares his excitement.    Dr. Jennifer Wilcox – Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Fossil Energy at the US Department of Energy & Presidential Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania (on leave)Mike Kelland – CEO, Planetary Hydrogen3.   60-Second Report: “Waste Prevention: The Environmental and Economic Benefits for Canada” [min 20:20]Mayor Jack Froese – Mayor of the Township of Langley (BC) & Chair, National Zero Waste Council4.  “Five Other Things Happening in the Green Economy This Week” [min 22:01]Mike Moffatt – Senior Director of Policy, Smart Prosperity InstituteFor more info and links to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca  

1.     A plan for cutting pollution from cars and trucks [min 1:45]Canadians drive the dirtiest cars on the planet, making transportation the second biggest source of climate pollution. There's a three-step solution.  Merran Smith – Executive Director, Clean Energy Canada & Co-chair of the B.C. government's Climate Solutions Council 2.     The problem with carbon offsets [min 10:56]Does paying two dollars to plant a tree undo the emissions of your last flight or of driving your car?  Nic Rivers – Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair in Climate and Energy Policy, University of Ottawa3.     60-Second Report: “Reality Check: Carbon Emissions Inventory in the GTHA” [min 20:47]Maryam Shekarrizfard – Carbon & Co-Benefits Quantification Manager, The Atmospheric Fund4.     “Five Other Things Happening in the Green Economy This Week” [min 22:28]Mike Moffatt – Senior Director of Policy, Smart Prosperity InstituteFor links and other materials, go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.     Growing food without growing emissions [min 1:04]Agriculture accounts for 10% of Canada's (and the world's) total climate pollution – thanks to methane emissions from animal manure, Nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer, and Carbon dioxide emissions from machinery. Can a change in farming practices turn agriculture into a climate solution? Karen Ross – Director, Farmers for Climate SolutionsBrent Preston – Co-owner, The New Farm 2.     The economics of public transit [min 13:25]How does one of the most environmentally-friendly commuting options make ends meet? And what happens after COVID?Marco D'Angelo – President & CEO, Canadian Urban Transit Association3.     60-Second Report: "Canada in a Changing Climate: Regional Perspectives Report – Prairie Provinces” [min 20:37]David Sauchyn – Director, Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative and Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Regina4.     “Five Other Things Happening in the Green Economy This Week” [min 22:22] Mike Moffatt – Senior Director of Policy, Smart Prosperity InstituteFor more info and links,  go to: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.     There must be 60 ways to hit “net zero” [min 1:13]Last November, Canada joined more than 100 countries in pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2050. Is it even possible? A much-anticipated report now tells us how Canada could get there.Jason Dion – Mitigation Research Director, Canadian Institute for Climate Choices2.     The technology that changes everything [min 11:42]Up until now, the world's #1 solution for fighting climate change has been to cut down the amount of pollution we're dumping into the atmosphere. A new and emerging suite of technologies will now let us suck existing pollution out of the atmosphere. What does it look like and how big a role can it play? Devin Todd – Researcher in Residence for Negative Emissions Technologies, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions3.     60-Second Report: "Employment Transitions and the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels” [min 20:26]Dale Marshall – National Program Manager, Environmental Defence4.   “Five Other Things Happening in the Green Economy This Week” [min 22:15]Mike Moffatt – Senior Director of Policy, Smart Prosperity InstituteFor more info and links, go to podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.   What green technologies will break out in the new decade? [min 1:24]What's going to be the next Tesla? The next solar panel? Canada's biggest green technology investor tells us what's coming down the innovation pipeline that will solve environmental problems while creating big business opportunities. Leah Lawrence – President & CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada2.   Can the world's biggest food and beverage company phase out plastic pollution? [min 11:17]Over the past 60 years, plastics have transformed our economy. But the pollution that comes out the other end is piling up in oceans, neighbourhoods and landfills. The businesses signing on to the new Canada Plastics Pact want to change that.Catherine O'Brien – Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Canada 3.     60-Second Report: "Reconciliation and self-determination through renewable energy?"[min 20:07]Christina Hoicka – Associate Professor, York University4.     “Five Other Things Happening in the Clean Economy This Week” [min 22:00] Alice-Irene Whittaker – Director of Communications, Smart Prosperity InstituteFor more details and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.     What to expect from the Biden climate agenda in the first yearCan Joe Biden live up to his climate plan? We mark the inauguration of the 46th president of the United States with a panel of three US policy insiders, who forecast how the “most ambitious climate agenda ever” will make ground in the first year.Ana Unruh-Cohen, US House Select Committee on the Climate CrisisTim Profeta, Duke University Joe Kruger, Georgetown Climate Center at Georgetown University  2.     “5 (Other) Things Happening in the Green Economy This Week”Alice Irene Whittaker stands in for Mike Moffatt to report on the other big news in the green economy. Alice-Irene Whittaker, Smart Prosperity Institute [min 20:50]For more details and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.     What to watch for in  2021Three trusted green economy experts with a knack for seeing the big picture share the top 2 things they think will rock the green economy in 2021.Mike De Souza, Global News [min 2:00]Priyanka Lloyd, Green Economy Canada [min 7:45] Bruce Lourie, Ivey Foundation [min 14:50] 2.     “5 (Other) Things Happening in the Green Economy This Year”Mike Moffatt returns with a special new-year edition of his regular run down of everything else happening in the green economy right now. Mike Moffatt, Smart Prosperity Institute [min 20:50] For more details and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.    2020 Green Economy News Mash-up [min. 1:14]A montage of this year's green economy news stories, with credit to news clips from CBC News, Global News, CBC Power & Politics, CTV News, BNN-Bloomberg, BBC News, Fox News, CNBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.2.    Panel: The Biggest Green Economy News Stories of 2020 [min. 3:42]Four of Canada's top journalists and media commentators share their thoughts on the year's most important stories for the green economy. Heather Scoffield, Toronto StarAdam Radwanski, The Globe and MailMia Rabson, The Canadian PressShawn McCarthy, FreelanceFor more details and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.  Canada's new climate target [min 1:14]  Last week the Trudeau government tabled new climate legislation that promises to reach net-zero climate emissions by the year 2050. What's different about this target?  Sara Hastings-Simon – Senior Researcher at the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines & Research Fellow at the University of Calgary2.  Can Joe Biden stop climate change? [min 6:00]It's being called the most ambitious climate agenda ever. It's worth $1.7 trillion and it was a centrepiece of Joe Biden's election campaign. Here's a Coles Notes of what's in it.  Dan Woynillowicz – Principal, Polaris Strategy + Insights3.  Can Quebec remain Canada's greenest province? [min 15:30]Quebec's reputation was on the line last week when Francois Legault released his government's first climate plan. Is the plan up to snuff?Colleen Thorpe – Executive Director, Equiterre4.  60-Second Report: "2020 Provincial Energy Efficiency Scorecard" [min 20:30]Brendan Haley – Efficiency Canada5.  “Five Other Things Happening in the Clean Economy This Week” [min 22:20]Mike Moffatt – Senior Director, Smart Prosperity Institute For more details and links, visit: podcast.smartprosperity.ca

1.  Can Canada's conservatives get serious about climate change?Conservatives in Canada have had a mixed relationship with climate change. How can they re-claim the climate issue? Can they win on climate change? And what does an ambitious but conservative climate agenda look like?[min 2: 30]  Mitch Davidson – Executive Director, Strategy Corp Institute of Public Policy and Economics[min 6:55]  Ken Boessenkool – Professor, Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University[min 11:47]  Melissa Lantsman – Vice President, Enterprise Canada2.  Adventures in eliminating subsidies for the fossil fuel sectorIn 2009, Canada joined its G20 peers in committing to eliminate subsidies for the fossil fuel sector. A new report scores Canada's performance.[min 17:10]  Vanessa Corkal – Policy Analyst, International Institute for Sustainable Development 3.  60-Second Report: "Reassessment of Need for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project"[min 21:17]  J David Hughes – Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives4.  “Five Other Things Happening in the Clean Economy This Week”[min. 23:18]  Mike Moffatt - Senior Director, Smart Prosperity Institute

Overhaul in Canada's auto sector.  A pair of bombshell announcements mean that Canada is on its way to becoming a major zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) maker. But how does an entire industry go through that kind of transition?[min 2: 50] Charlotte Yates – President and Vice-chancellor, University of Guelph[min 7:51] Jerry Dias – National President, UniforBarriers to the Indigenous Economy. With the confrontation over Mi'kmaq (Sipekne'katik) lobster fishing rights as a backdrop, the President & CEO of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business talks about barriers to Indigenous businesses and communities in getting a piece of the economy.[min 13:55] Tabatha Bull – President & CEO, Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business “60-Second Report”: Building a Greener Recovery – Lessons from the Great Recession [min 19:55] Edward Barbier – University Distinguished Professor, Department of Economics and Senior Scholar, School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University“Five Other Things Happening in the Clean Economy This Week”[min. 21:53] Mike Moffatt - Smart Prosperity InstituteHOST: Eric CampbellWEB: podcast.smartprosperity.ca 

In this inaugural episode:The Government of Canada commits to going above and beyond its 2030 emissions targets. But can it be done?Catherine Abreu: min 2:24Kathy Bardswick: min 7:53Three lawyers arguing for a carbon price in the Supreme Court give us a glimpse behind the scenes.Sharlene Telles-Langdon: min 13:06Stewart Elgie: min 16:00Nathalie Chalifour: min 18:3160-Second Report: Final Report of the Task Force for a Resilient RecoveryFive Other Things Happening in the Clean Economy Right NowWith Mike Moffatt