Can Canada really afford to tackle the climate and affordability crises at the same time?

The truth is we can’t afford inaction on the climate emergency. In fact, failing to ace on climate will cost our economy a $5.5-trillion hit by the end of the century. We also can’t afford for a growing number of families to struggle to meet their basic needs. It’s time for a robust plan that ensures we make polluters and the billionaire class pay for action that meets the needs of people and the planet.

It’s critical to mobilize federal funds directly in support of action to tackle the climate emergency and the affordability crisis at once.

The mass government investments we are demanding represent approximately 2% of GDP, for an average of $57 billion in public spending annually over five years. In their “Spend What it Takes” report, Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac) and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) have outlined out how Canada can afford this plan. Read it here.

How does renewable energy make life more affordable?

By fighting the clean electricity transition, conservative politicians like Danielle Smith and Doug Ford are withholding cheap electricity while people across the country struggle to pay their bills.

According to Clean Energy Canada, “in Alberta and Ontario, wind can now produce electricity at significantly lower costs than gas-fired power— with even more reductions on the horizon. Even without carbon pricing, wind power is set to be 40% cheaper than gas-fired-power in both provinces by 2030.” To use one context as an example, Clean Energy Canada’s analysis finds that switching to clean energy, like heat pumps, would save a household in the Greater Toronto Area over $800 per month. We know that many Canadian households cannot afford to purchase clean energy upgrades upfront, which is why we’re calling on the federal government to support universal heat pump programs and need-based support for retrofits. These programs will make critical money-saving clean energy technology available to everyone while ensuring tenants are protected.

Broadly speaking, wind and solar when combined with battery storage capacity can produce cheaper electricity than fossil gas. See the full report by Clean Energy Canada.

Globally, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has confirmed that renewables are the cheapest form of power today especially when contrasted with volatile and increasing costs associated with fossil fuels. See more from IRENA here.

How rapidly do we need to move on the climate crisis?

As one of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent reports states, we have “a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.”

Climate scientists have been clear. Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible but will require rapid decarbonization by 2030. Our current trajectory will lead to a 2.8°C temperature rise by the end of the century which would have catastrophic implications.

Unfortunately, the strong grasp the fossil fuel industry has over our politicians has limited Canada’s progress towards this important global goal. The Conservatives outright deny the urgency of the climate crisis and do everything in their power to defend the interests of the fossil fuel industry. The Liberals, on the other hand, keep delaying the critical and urgent action this moment demands.

Achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035 is an absolute necessity if Canada plans to uphold its commitment to the international community. The good news is that we know this is 100% possible, and the transformation will make life better for everyone except fossil fuel billionaires. Check out the Shifting Power: Zero-Emissions Electricity Across Canada by 2035 report by David Suzuki Foundation.

Why are heat pumps important?

We are proposing a national universal heat pump program. Ensuring we get toxic fossil fuels like gas off our grids and out of our homes means transitioning towards fully electric and efficient ways to heat our homes with heat pumps. Heat pumps also cool our homes during the summers. That means that heat pumps can play a big role in keeping vulnerable populations healthy and safe during extreme heat.

There are a range of heat pump options, including cold climate heat pumps, so that buildings of different sizes and needs across the country can be effectively warmed and cooled with this versatile, energy efficient technology.

The best part about all this is that a transition to heat pumps actually saves money in the long run. Read more here. 

Is renewable energy actually reliable?

We really recommend the Shifting Power report by the David Suzuki Foundation as it demonstrates how renewable energy is a reliable and affordable means to meet Canada’s energy needs by 2035 and to meet the growing demand for electricity towards 2050 and beyond.

Experts confirm that when combined with energy storage capacity, renewables are reliable even when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow. In fact there is a robust field of study and evidence that renewables are a more reliable energy source than fossil fuels.

Beyond that, in the face of worsening climate disasters and the volatility of fossil fuels, renewable energy sources make our communities more resilient. Just read the story of how community-owned renewables allowed the city of Summerside, PEI, to light up fast after Hurricane Fiona while the rest of the island remained shrouded in blackouts.

As Sierra Club Atlantic points out, “community-owned utilities and co-operatives are leaders in the transition to clean, renewable energies. They’re also better at addressing local energy poverty, and most provide better, more reliable service at a lower cost to customers.”

Why do fossil fuels make life more expensive?

We know that fossil fuel companies have pillaged the planet for their profit for years. Now, in the middle of an ongoing economic crisis and an escalating climate emergency, we’re seeing these same companies report obscene profits as people across Canada and around the world suffer. In 2022 alone, the total profits of the five biggest Canadian oil and gas companies were $38.3 billion.

Research by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that over recent years, 25
cents of every dollar of inflation faced by Canadians has gone to the profits of oil and gas
and mining extractions.

We know all too well that the volatile price of oil and gas has made it more expensive than ever before to heat our homes and fuel our vehicles. But it’s important to note that this is part of a pattern that has repeated itself over the course of history: to quote Mark Zandi, chief economist at credit rating agency Moody’s, “every recession since World War II has been preceded by a jump in oil prices.”

As shared in a recent 350.org blog, “Disentangling ourselves and our economies from the fossil fuel industry would protect our planet, and it would also protect our pockets… In the end it’s the fossil fuel companies that set market prices – and they do that for profit, with the ultimate goal of maintaining their obscene benefit margins at the expense of people’s suffering, and all while maintaining the human and planetary crisis unraveling.”

How does the fight for renewables align with Indigenous rights and decolonization?

To quote Melina Laboucan-Massimo, founder of Sacred Earth Solar and author of the Just Transition Guide, “While our world transitions to renewable energy from fossil fuels, it is essential that we are critical and aware of the impacts of “clean” energy so we do not replicate the same system of harms that have been perpetuated from the previous energy era.”

The Just Transition Guide shares the powerful stories of Indigenous communities who are on the forefront of leading the transition to a better future in their communities by championing renewable energy, food sovereignty, energy conservation, efficiency, eco-housing, and cultural revitalization projects. You can also learn more about some of these stories by watching Melina’s docu-series “Power to the People”– available for streaming here. The report goes on to explore and reimagine how energy policies in Canada have the potential to facilitate the Just Transition in Indigenous communities.

You can also learn more about the various Indigenous-led clean energy projects across the country through the organization Indigenous Clean Energy.

Is this campaign addressing misinformation about Canada’s Clean Electricity Regulations?

This campaign was created in part to respond to the Alberta Conservatives’ “Tell the Feds” campaign which experts say is promoting misinformation about Canada’s Clean Electricity regulations.

We echo the call from may people across the country who are calling on Alberta to cease its false advertising which we know is a “naked ploy to unyieldingly serve Big Oil.”

The truth is that experts confirm that when combined with battery storage capacity, renewables are reliable even when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow. In fact there is a robust field of study and evidence that renewables are a more reliable energy source than fossil fuels. Here’s an interview that discusses Alberta’s campaign in more detail.

We know that Conservative politicians have a long history of using fear mongering tactics to prop up the fossil fuel industry and block the transition to a renewable energy economy. These tactics are preventing Canadians from accessing cheap, clean electricity.

According to Clean Energy Canada, “in Alberta and Ontario, wind can now produce electricity at significantly lower costs than gas-fired power— with even more reductions on the horizon. Even without carbon pricing, wind power is set to be 40% cheaper than gas-fired-power in both provinces by 2030.” To use one context as an example, Clean Energy Canada’s analysis finds that switching to clean energy, like heat pumps, would save a household in the Greater Toronto Area over $800 per month.

We know that Liberals like Trudeau are easily swayed into delaying bold climate action when pushed by right wing interests. But the status quo will keep the fossil fuel industry rich at the expense of people and the planet. That’s why our campaign focuses on real facts, real stories, and real science. Our goal is to tell the truth and show our federal leaders the broad base of support we have behind a clean energy future.

How can I fight climate misinformation among my family and friends?

After seeing so many climate disasters at our doorstep and witnessing an alarming rise of misinformation shared by Big Oil and their political allies, you may end up talking with your loved ones about the climate crisis more than usual.  Check out our “Holiday Survival Cheat Sheet” to learn some frameworks that will help you handle these conversations with compassion and clarity. Download it here.