Introduction
At Sustainable Circular Economy, our Mission is to assist people and businesses think about their choices to addressing global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, helping to do the world a world of good, by offering a pathway through the circular economy principled upon people, the planet and profit.
We are not just another company to follow. We approach our work that embodies our vision and values, celebrates diversity, and supports a balance of personal, environmental and sustainability needs. Today, we discuss the energy issue relating to solving global warming by raising the question: “What do we need to build?”
What Do We See?
The energy conversation surrounding the needs to address global warming and greenhouse gas reductions are often framed around what we need to cut in the decades ahead – oil production, carbon pollution, switching to electric vehicles, building efficiencies, new vehicle charging stations, and.... These are all important discussions, but what is missing are conversations around what we need to build, to reach the targets.
What are the Commitments to “Cut”?
Following is a summary of a few of the commitments made:
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan announced a target of
50 per cent power generation from renewable sources by 2030
.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has pledged to get to 80 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
They also want at least 30 percent of cars to be zero emission by 2030, and
all new provincial buildings to be net zero.
Canada
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault intends to mandate by 2030, at least
half of the vehicles sold must be electric, and by 2035, all new vehicles sold
must run on batteries. That works out to sales of 3.67 million electric vehicles
by 2030 and 11.8 million by 2035. To hit the 2035 target, Canada must
purchase an average of 738,000 electric vehicles per year. In 2020, 86,000
electric vehicles were sold in Canada.
Farmers and Fertilizer
The federal government is mandating a 30 percent reduction in fertilizer use.
Has anyone seen corresponding information regarding the impact on food
production, increasing the number of Canadians and the world that will face
food insecurity? Presently, 4.4 million Canadians face food insecurity. What
do we do if 30 percent more are added, a total of 1.32 million – and if we
consider inflation impacts today, that number could be much higher.
Conclusion
This is only a short list; add in all the commitments, and we have a long way to go to get there. Where is the discussion about that? We see discussion about how we are going to get there just as important, or all the commitments just become questionable to languish on paper when all the politicians who made them are long gone, and we are left holding the bag.
At Sustainable Circular Economy, we are 100 percent supportive of establishing goals to reduce our global carbon footprint and helping companies and individuals to do their part. Our business is helping to do the world a world of good, by offering a pathway through the circular economy principled upon people, the planet and profit.
Together we can do this, but it will take knowing what is required, and discussion and commitment about how we are going to get there considering the people, the planet and profit – the basis for the circular economy.
Let’s have the discussions. Ask the questions of our leaders, and if you wish to know how to get there, call on us at Sustainable Circular Economy. We offer a free consultation to discuss how we can help you seize an era of opportunity and innovation in the new environmental landscape.
Best wishes
Vancouver, BC.