Political Manipulation Could Derail Nova Scotia’s Cap and Trade System

Political Manipulation Could Derail Nova Scotia’s Cap and Trade System

Political expediency seems to be motivating the design of Nova Scotia’s carbon pricing system, potentially creating negative consequences for the environment and economy. Last week, the province released a discussion paper on its proposed cap and trade system to comply with the federal government’s plan for a pan-Canadian carbon price.

Canada after Trump: Harold Innis and What to Do When Empires Go Crazy

What Innis’ thought teaches us is that Canada might have a particular role to play when the American Empire gets out of whack. Thus, it is a time for the Canadian nation to actively consider how it can play a constructive role in the changing world order.

Nova Scotia and the Carbon Tax: Build on Early Actions, Prepare for our Green Future

Nova Scotia policymakers should have known for some time that carbon pricing is coming. The province should be prepared to succeed in a low-carbon future because of the earlier actions the Premier mentions. It is now time to build on those earlier actions and make the province prosper in a green energy economy.

Political reality and climate policy: a response to Mark Jaccard

So policymakers and climate activists should heed Jaccard’s advice in taking politics seriously. I would suggest that doing so requires thinking more about the kind of policy mix needed to reinforce economic transformations and paying less attention to economists fixated on “first-best” and “second-best” policy instruments, while dismissing everything else.

Green transition cannot be left to provinces alone

The solution is not to give up on carbon pricing, as Trudeau seems to be suggesting. Rather, we should put more policy items on the cupboard. A policy framework that supports regionally specific low-carbon transition processes would complement a national carbon price quite nicely.