We all need the truth!
At Sustainable Circular Economy, a boutique firm in Vancouver Canada, that focuses on assisting communities, companies and individuals implement strategies of the circular economy, we have come increasingly frustrated at the lack of truth and consequences.
Trusting and consequences is not throwing money at a problem; so far that has not worked with climate change and global warming. To us as Sustainable Circular Economy, truth and consequences is at it says:
Tell us the truth, and;
What are the consequences?
Action and Reaction
For every action, there is a reaction – and what got us going was the human cost of the political motive not to push for LNG. “People,” or should I suggest the “political narrative” does not want coal, LNG, nuclear, fossil fuel, and there are huge challenges with hydrogen, wind, and hydroelectric.
There are significant environmental, human and social costs, no matter what options are chosen. Evaluating project opportunities within the context of the circular economy would remove the political narrative and help us all come to an understand of what is best for the people, the planet and for sustainability – by sustainability, we mean profit. If a project is not sustainable, how can it be good for anyone?
I just read a statement out of COP27 that stated, “Most governments and multinational corporations funding and attending COP27 seem to want to turn the climate crisis into a business opportunity, to generate profit. This commodification and commercialization of nature is what has put us in a catastrophic situation.”
What is so misaligned with making a profit? We cannot continue to live in a world where government throws money at a problem. At some point that is going to stop and we, the have’s, will not be in any position to work with the have nots. And, don’t get me started on the profit motive of some environmental groups.
Our Caveat
To put where we stand on the line at Sustainable Circular Economy; Our goal is to help people understand these issues and allow them to make their own decisions. If the people lead, the leaders will follow. To put where we stand on the line?
Politicians need to be held accountable. Look at the recent announcement about Hydrogen in Newfoundland. Sure, hydrogen flowing by 2025 – not a chance and the prognostications were just allowed to slide.
Look at where we are with climate change after all the money and promises. It is suggested we are not going to make the targets – we have not yet.
LNG Pipeline – Social Benefits to Canada?
A recent story suggested Canada could hire 100,000 nurses and provide First Nations universal clean water with far less than a year of LNG royalties/taxes from a single pipeline.[1]
Analyzing the potential economic benefits from the Coastal GasLink pipeline, the author suggests that we are losing $5 billion per month of which $2.8 billion would go to various levels of government to do the world a world of good.
Analyzing the social benefits, the author suggests that level of revenue could support one large hospital and a handful of smaller-centre hospitals per month, and at $120,000 per year, all-in cost with salary/benefits, about 23,000 nurses per month.
And low-income housing? At $400,000 per unit, Canada could build 7,000 units per month.
And make good on moving forward with reconciliation with First Nations? How long have we heard about the move to improve water supply in First Nation communities? Talk about a wide gap in substantive equality – do we ever hear of water quality problems in non-Indigenous communities?
The government has again promised to fix the problem by spending $1.2 billion by 2025. Presently, there are approximately 61 long-term boil water advisories in place for Indigenous communities, with the oldest going back to 1995.
LNG Pipeline – Social Benefits to the World?
The impacts of not having a pipeline are felt around the world too. People cannot access clean fuel; what do they do? They go back to burning coal or dirty fossil fuel.
I am not suggesting LNG is a forever solution, but can we just drop off the cliff? Accommodating LNG into the supply chain would allow us to reduce CO2 gas emissions compared to burning coal by the equivalent of removing 310,000 tons of coal, or about 1.3 percent of the global consumption per day.
That is not a perfect, forever solution, but it would significantly reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2.3% per day.
What is the alternative? Don’t take advantage of a potential solution that is good for the environment, good for the people, and is sustainable until we have real viable alternatives for the world’s energy needs.
In Canada, we want to fix the health system – desperately, and we have not yet seen the full impacts of what is probably coming to hit our economy. Inflation up 7% - my food costs are up almost 50%.... and an Indigenous community I work with faces daily food costs that are 246 percent more than the same food basket in Vancouver.
How can anyone afford $46 for a small watermelon, or $13.50 for a box of cereal? In Vancouver, I just bought 3 cucumbers – I will not mention the store out of respect – for $10. Ground beef, $20 per kg. One kg of tomatoes, $6.00. I purchased 90% vegetables and the cost was $346.
And the cost of winter has not even set in yet with more carbon taxes coming.
Conclusion
The issues of environmental choices are not easy to make. At Sustainable Circular Economy, we support and advocate for promoting the truth and helping people understand the consequences. We do not have all the answers, but we do support evaluation in the context of the circular economy that considers the impacts on people, the planet and sustainability.
If the people lead, the leaders will follow. And to date, too many discussions have not considered the alternatives, the options or the impacts.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
For a great read on the subject, consider the following book by Terry Etam.
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Sustainable Circular Economy
Vancouver, Canada
http//www.sustainablecirculareconomy.ca
Telephone: (604) 788 7261
[1] Terry Etam (Nov. 1, 2022). https://boereport.com/2022/11/01/canada-could-hire-100000-nurses-and-provide-first-nations-universal-clean-water-with-far-less-than-a-year-of-lng-royalties-taxes-from-a-single-pipeline/. (Accessed Nov. 10, 2022)