The petroleum sector in Canada has developed into a vibrant industry which has resulted in export driven economic wealth and a top five global energy producer. In 2007, Canada’s energy export revenue totaled $90 billion and accounted for about 20% of the value of all exports. A study undertaken at the University of Calgary suggests that our economy without the impact of oil and gas would barely be recognizable, less than half its current size.
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Global trade in carbon is a growing business with quadrupling in international carbon sales in 2006 at over $25B USD according to the World Bank. The New York Times presented carbon trading as one of the fastest growing trades, with companies scrambling to get a slice of a market now worth about $30 billion and could grow to $1 trillion within a decade. Carbon trading is the new big thing according to “In London’s Financial World”. Carbon will be the world’s biggest commodity market, and it could become the world’s biggest market over all, it added.

Alberta Climate Change and Emissions Management Act 2007, and British Columbia Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act or Cap and Trade Act, 2008, pave the way for industrial plants in these provinces, to take action to mitigate their carbon intensity, including buying of carbon credits to offset and meet their greenhouse gas emissions intensity target, thereby pioneering carbon trading in these provinces and Canada at large.
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Without disputing its cause or causes, impact or impacts, solution or solutions, most governments around the world have got climate change popping on their agenda all the time. Our energy has been invested in diverse ways to find possibilities of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We’ve explored measures ranging from simple, “easy-to-do” home based stuffs like: “turn off”; to large scale, complex scientific experiments such as adding iron to the ocean, in what is known as: “ocean fertilization”.
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In a stunning move this week, Jack Layton, slammed the government over a leaked memo that revealed the government’s interest in cutting the number of environmental impact reviews it conducts. The leader of the New Democrat Party, “Uncle” Jack Layton, said it spoke of the government sacrificing the environment for the economy. Perhaps even more stunning was Layton’s suggestion that the opposite of a green economic recovery was a “brown” one.

Until now, political leaders in Canada have traditionally abstained from weighing in on opposite-colour contraversies. The last time it had happened was in 1967 when Lester B Pearson suggested the opposite of burgundy was magenta; a move which grew widespread protest from members of the PWFCIM (People Who’s Favourite Colour Is Magenta) who claimed Pearson’s assertion was reckless and inaccurate. That was a different time however, and Layton’s modern-day assertion is drawing its share of supporters, as well as speculation that “brown” may actually enter the books as the colour of anything un-eco friendly. This comes much to the dismay of the PWFCIB (People Who’s Favourite Colour Is Brown), who lament that the colour brown has been through enough denigration already, having previously been stigmatized as the colour of ‘poop’.
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In a world of rising energy prices, a growing demand for clean and sustainable energy and a growing demand to mitigate climate change, should we be constructing new coal power plans or other high green house gas (GHG) emitting power sources?

When I go around industrial complexes and see the huge eye-catching plume of smoke rising up smoke stacks in to the atmosphere, the first thing that comes to my mind, possibly like most of your minds is the air pollution and to an extent climate change causing potential of these waste hot gases.
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A day doesn’t pass by without a media report relating to the economic downturn. Irrespective of its origin, architect, beneficiary or solution, a quick and robust solution to reverse this trend is inevitable. In this respect, governments around the world have been busy designing economic stimulus packages, necessitated by the unprecedented loss associated with this dire situation.

In a world of growing demand for energy and rising prices, the Canadian energy sector, a top five world energy producer, generated 5.6% of its national GDP in 2007. Canadian energy exports fuels a great deal of US energy imports, directly and indirectly breathing livelihood and economic sustenance to Canada.
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In the coming days, weeks and months you should start seeing an elimination of bottled water on municipal property.

In a time where Canadians are confused by what the Federal Government is doing about the economy it may be hard to celebrate the small things. The recent decision by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to phase out the sale of bottled water may make things a little easier.

Joe Cressy, member of Inside the Bottle, says, “In the same way that Coca-Cola doesn’t sell Pepsi in its building, we’re very pleased to see the FCM encouraging its municipalities not to provide bottled water on civici property.” Canada has some of the cleanest tap water and Canadians should be proud of that fact. This move helps to endorse that pride. This move is also one that has both environmental and economic benefits.
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Yesterday, the C.D. Howe Institute released their review of the Government’s renewable energy programs where they suggested the need for a re-focusing of tax-payer money.

The report calls for “A redirection of federal funds towards more fiscally cost-effective carbon mitigation.” It finds that the money is being spent inefficiently on subsidizing technologies aimed at reducing our CO2 emissions.
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Of no surprise to anyone, it is now being reported that Canada’s environmental inspector has found that much of the federal governments plan to save the planet from global warming was nothing more than lip service paid to the Canadian public.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration has rationed billions of taxpayers’ dollars for environmental initiatives. All of which promise to reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 80 megatonnes, which is roughly 10% nationally.

However, Environment commissioner Scott Vaughn has given our fearless leader and his cronies less than favourable marks in a failing-grade report card released on February 5th.
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It is really incredible to watch the development of an idea, as it grows into something grand.

I have been lucky enough to watch the idea of one Thornhill, Ontario (my hometown) resident, Jonathan Maister expand right before my very eyes.

In an April 2008 issue of Canadian Geographic Magazine, Jonathan read about the West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE). The community-led renewable energy project organized the bulk purchase of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Hot Water (SHW) systems. In the first wave of this initiative, 86 units (60 solar hot water systems and 26 solar electric systems) were ordered. Residents were able to take their own personal energy use into their own hands while reducing their environmental impact (through the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions their energy source resulted in).
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