Day Three Highlights from GLOBE Forum 2022, with Mike Gerbis
That’s a wrap! It’s been our great pleasure to connect and collaborate with the incredible community at GLOBE Forum over these past three days. As we look back on our last day together, hear about why we’re excited for what lies ahead on the road to Destination Net Zero from the Chief Executive Officer of GLOBE Series, The Delphi Group, Leading Change, and CBSR, Mike Gerbis.
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A Five-Point Plan for Canada to Reach Net Zero by 2050
By Phil De Luna, Green Party of Canada Candidate for Toronto-St. Paul’s
I have spent my entire career developing technologies to help decarbonize Canada. It started with my PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto, where I discovered new renewable ways to convert carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals. From there I co-founded a venture, Team CERT, to scale that clean technology out of the lab and became a finalist in the Carbon XPRIZE. I joined the National Research Council of Canada as its youngest-ever Director where I built and led a $57M collaborative R&D program to develop made-in-Canada technologies for decarbonization. Along the way, I have studied, discovered, developed, funded, mentored, and advocated for the development and expansion of cleantech.
At some point on this journey, I had a realization – technology alone is not enough to get us to net-zero. You can have the next breakthrough hydrogen catalyst or the cutting-edge carbon capture material, but unless you have the finances to scale it and the policies to support it, it will end up on the shelf. Together, technology, policy, and finance are the three levers needed to affect change. Thankfully, many institutional investors, corporates, and governments have recognized this need and are shifting money away from fossil fuels and into cleantech. For example, venture capitalists are expected to complete $7.7 billion worth of cleantech deals in the U.S. this year, up from $1 billion a decade ago. However, this transition is not happening fast enough, as it typically takes 20 years from invention to impact with clean technologies based on materiology, like hydrogen or batteries.
Following record-breaking heatwaves and the recent wake of fires across North America, the urgency to act on climate change is becoming more pressing every day. Unfortunately, many governments are not on track to meet their Paris Agreement climate goals and many, including Canada, continue to invest in fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines. The International Energy Agency (a traditionally conservative organization) recently published a report showing that net-zero by 2050 is not possible with the continued development of fossil fuel infrastructure and extraction. Their analysis noted that achieving net-zero by 2050 can only be done with an unprecedented, warlike effort to expand clean technology infrastructure. And only governments and policies can work at the scale needed to jump-start this transition. We have innovators developing the technologies. We have investors recognizing the opportunity of this transition. We just need the political will to get it done.
Continuing my career-long goal to help make Canadian industry cleaner and more prosperous, I am now running to become a Member of Parliament in Toronto-St. Paul’s for the Green Party. I’m running because we must move faster to combat the threat of climate change and create new sustainable avenues to renew our society and economy. I’m running because we need more diversity in parliament and more science in policy. I’m running because I want to lower the barriers for other non-traditional candidates to consider running — because a diverse government is a robust and resilient one.
My platform is currently focused on three pillars: supporting our essential workers, housing affordability, and green jobs that are part of a just transition to a net-zero Canada. These topics are deeply personal for me. My fiancée is an operating room nurse at Sick Kids and a frontline worker. Many of my fellow Filipino-Canadians occupy these often low-paying but essential roles. My generation is being increasingly squeezed out of the housing market and is wondering, will we ever be able to purchase a home? Championing cleantech to fight climate change has been my passion, but more importantly, I recognize the opportunity in sustainable jobs. My father, an autoworker, lost his job when Ford closed their assembly plant in Windsor, ON, and I’ve seen firsthand what happens when an entire community is dependent on one industry. And I see the same thing happening in heavy emission industries today. We need to do everything we can to diversify the industry and ensure Canadian families have green jobs that will last.
There exists a massive opportunity in the clean energy transition, as the green economy will be the economy of the 21st century. To this end, I have come up with a five-point plan to get us to net-zero by 2050, one that I hope to push for in parliament.
Step 1. Protect what we have.
Nature sequesters 12 billion tonnes of CO2 every year in wetlands, rainforests, vegetation, and soil. Environmental conservation is not only about protecting the beauty of nature, but also about protecting its ability to capture and sequester CO2 through photosynthesis and other natural pathways. Take for example, recent plans for an Amazon warehouse on Toronto wetlands that was abandoned due to public pressure. Policies and technologies that focus on reducing consumption, reusing consumer goods, promoting a circular economy, and increasing recyclability are all ways to protect what we have.
Step 2. Renewables everywhere.
Solar and wind are now cheaper than coal. The issue is no longer economic price, but rather intermittency. What do you do when the sun does not shine, or the winds won’t blow? This is why it is so important to increase investment into and development of energy storage technologies, particularly long-term seasonal energy storage solutions that traditional batteries are not capable of. Policies that support a 100% emission-free electricity grid are also extremely important. However, we will need to consider initial lower-income energy subsidies when electricity costs may be higher due to infrastructure spending in the early stages of this transition.
Step 3. Electrify everything.
Now that we have clean and green electrons, we need to put them to work and electrify as much as possible of our traditionally fossil-fuel-powered economy. The obvious first beachhead is electric vehicles. Kicked off by Tesla’s rapid rise, light-duty transportation is well on its way towards electrification and mainstream adoption, Among others, Ford has announced they are slated to spend more on EVs than on internal combustion engine vehicles in 2023 alone. To help spur this trend, policies can create incentives for EVs, increase charging infrastructure, ban internal combustion engine cars, and mandate a certain number of EVs be available at any dealership. Another area is home heating and cooling. Electrifying our lived environment will also reduce dependence on natural gas by way of zero-emissions heat pumps.
Step 4. Tackle hard to abate sectors.
Once we’ve decarbonized our electricity grid, we’ll need to address industrial emissions that are difficult or impossible to electrify. Agriculture and the production of materials, fertilizer, cement, and steel – all things that we need for economy and quality of life – produce emissions just by the nature of their how they are created. This is where the need for disruptive technology is greatest, where we need to design and develop new processes that are circular, low-emission, or entirely new. Cleantech is not just solar panels and wind turbines, it is anything that can help reduce CO2 emissions. Electric arc furnaces, geothermal steam generation, bio-foundries that produce sustainable materials, and CO2 embedded concrete are all examples of the next wave of cleantech.
Step 5. Remove carbon from the atmosphere.
To address the inevitable gap between decarbonizing our electricity grid, transportation, buildings, heavy industry, and agriculture sectors –we need new ways to capture carbon from the atmosphere. Whether that’s nature-based solutions like regenerative agriculture or tree planting campaigns, or technology-based solutions like direct-air capture and carbon capture, utilization, and storage – we need to do it all. Policies that incentive organizations and individuals to capture CO2 or promote the use of CO2 in industry (eg. carbon-reinforced concrete) will help create demand and drive down the costs of capture as the technologies reach economies of scale.
The beauty of this five-point plan is that the technology needed to execute it will require the exact same workers who presently make their livelihoods in the oil and gas sector today. We will need pipefitters, chemists, technicians, welders, and engineers to build the clean energy infrastructure needed for a sustainable tomorrow.
And there you have it, Phil’s Five-Point Plan to Get to Net-Zero. Perhaps a bit idealistic. Perhaps some will say inertia is difficult to break, that things are easier said than done. But like running for office, you’ll never get a chance to change the world if you don’t try.
Canadian Communities Can Apply Now to Host Save Pond Hockey Events
May 26, 2021 – The Climate and Sport Initiative has launched a call for applications for communities to host Save Pond Hockey events featuring top athletes, funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Climate change is threatening the future of Canada’s favourite sports. The Climate and Sport Initiative shines a spotlight on the direct effect of climate change on the sports we love—and on our nation—and empowers us all to get in the game of preserving both.
In late 2021 and early 2022, two Canadian communities will host the first two Save Pond Hockey Events, featuring five-time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser and other top athletes. Attendees will watch star athletes in their element, celebrate local and global climate leadership, and enjoy the magic of outdoor hockey.
Activities will be tailored to the selected communities. It could include: an athlete and community free skate, a hockey skills lab, a climate and sport expo, inspirational Spark Talks featuring athletes and sustainability experts, a contest focused on municipal sustainability priorities, youth engagement, and more!
The events will reach beyond city limits through livestreams and virtual interactivity, giving all of Canada a chance to join in on the fun.
If local restrictions at the time of the event don’t allow for an in-person game, the Initiative will work with the communities to organize impactful virtual events, featuring athlete meet-and-greets for example.
Application Instructions
Does your community have sustainability stories that all of Canada should know about? Express your interest in a Save Pond Hockey Festival to bring your community together and inspire more action.
Interested destination marketing organizations are invited to complete an Expression of Interest form here.
Deadline for submission: June 15
Watch this Space!
We look forward to announcing more ways the public can get involved, including contests, events, and more. Be the first to know by joining the Climate and Sport Initiative community:
Quotes
“Pond hockey and playing on the outdoor rink has given me everything that I have in my life, and I want my kids and grandkids to have the same opportunity. I’m proud to be part of the Climate and Sport Initiative, where we can use sports to engage, inspire and educate Canadians and people around the world to save our climate.” – Hayley Wickenheiser, former professional hockey player and five-time Olympian
“Sports provides a common language for talking about how our everyday choices affect the way we live, work and play. Save Pond Hockey events will give us the tools to tackle the greatest challenge of our time–and have fun doing it.” – Mike Gerbis, CEO of GLOBE Series and The Delphi Group, and Chair of Leading Change Canada
“Clean Foundation is excited to be the Atlantic Canada partner for the Save Pond Hockey events. Pond hockey is a great way to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change with Canadians and to educate people from all walks of life on how to take steps to address it.” – Scott Skinner, CEO and President, Clean Foundation
About the Climate and Sport Initiative
The Climate and Sport Initiative uses sport as a platform to educate, engage and empower Canadians to protect our planet for future generations. The multi-year initiative will include a series of live and virtual public events and experiences, training and support to help athletes become climate ambassadors, and youth mentorship and engagement. It is led by GLOBE Series, The Delphi Group, and Leading Change Canada, funded in part by the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Clean Foundation, and championed by Hayley Wickenheiser.
Contact
Felicity Feinman
Marketing Manager
Felicity.feinman@globeseries.com
1.613.263.5451
Leadership Armchair Dialogue with Lucas Joppa of Microsoft and Lightning Talk with National Geographic’s Pete Muller
GLOBE Series and The Delphi Group Partner with CBSR to Accelerate Canadian Corporate Sustainability Leadership
VANCOUVER, February 12, 2020 – Today the constellation of organizations that includes GLOBE Series, The Delphi Group, EXCEL Partnership and Leading Change Canada, with Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR), announced they are entering into a partnership that will consolidate and accelerate corporate sustainability leadership in Canada.
On behalf of the CBSR board, The Delphi Group and GLOBE Series will deliver CBSR programs and platforms and provide CBSR’s member network with access to additional resources and opportunities. CBSR’s Education Foundation, which conducts research into important issues for corporate sustainability leaders, will continue to operate independently under CBSR’s board. CBSR’s Executive Director will continue in his current role and be accountable to the CBSR board as well as to Ted Ferguson, President of The Delphi Group.
The combined members of CBSR and the EXCEL corporate learning partnership will benefit from closer alignment and more programming options. Both EXCEL and CBSR have been in existence for over 25 years, and their membership includes many of Canada’s top corporations who are leading on climate and sustainability issues, such as RBC, Maple Leaf Foods, Enbridge and CN. This partnership will make for an even larger and unified Canadian network on business and sustainability.
QUOTES
“We’re excited to welcome CBSR into our constellation of organizations. Collaboration between EXCEL and CBSR will bring greater value to our partners and supercharge our ambition to grow Canada’s clean economy.” – Mike Gerbis, executive in charge of the constellation of organizations that includes The Delphi Group, GLOBE Series, EXCEL Partnership, and Leading Change Canada
“This new partnership provides greater capacity for us to reach our full potential and provide more programming options for our members. Joining the GLOBE constellation helps us better demonstrate how doing business like a Canadian means not only being the best in the world, but also best for the world. – Leor Rotchild, Executive Director of CBSR
“This is an amazing opportunity to grow a national network of business leaders committed to making Canadian business a force for good. We are delighted that CBSR has joined our constellation and look forward to driving a leading-edge movement of sustainable business leadership on a national scale and beyond.” – Ted Ferguson, President of The Delphi Group
“The Board of CBSR is thrilled to support these two important networks coming together and we are confident that this new era of CBSR will be even more effective in helping Canadian companies become leaders in sustainability.” – Chris Coulter, CBSR Board Chair and CEO of Globescan
“As a long-time corporate member of both the EXCEL Partnership and CBSR, we’re excited about the new partnership and the value it brings in strengthening both organizations’ opportunity and ability to grow sustainability leadership across Canada, and tell a compelling story of Canadian values and commitment to sustainability beyond our borders.” – Jennifer Varey, Director CSR & Community Investment, Enbridge
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About GLOBE Series, The Delphi Group, EXCEL Partnership and Leading Change Canada
GLOBE Series, The Delphi Group, EXCEL Partnership and Leading Change are part of a constellation of organizations that work together toward a common purpose: to achieve a sustainable, prosperous and socially just future in a generation. We provide services and platforms that empower business, government and youth to improve performance while accelerating the clean economy.
About CBSR
In 1995, CBSR helped to introduce Canadian businesses to a ground-breaking idea now widely accepted as a compelling truth: that businesses do better – by every measure – when they operate in a socially and environmentally responsible way. For over two decades, we’ve helped Canadian businesses understand those principles and reap the benefits of putting them into action. Initially, acting as guides and teachers, we also developed into convenors, providing safe spaces for businesspeople to freely reveal challenges, share information and work toward building socially responsible companies and a more sustainable future. Most recently, we’ve become champions for the Canadian approach to doing business; we believe our approach has something to offer the world. As we grow, we will continue to support our partners, in our traditional roles and by creating new tools and unique, inclusive opportunities
to help Canadian businesses and governments make an enduring and positive contribution to the world. cbsr.ca
GLOBE Series, Toronto Pearson and the City of Mississauga launch new Climate and Sports Initiative at GLOBE 2020
VANCOUVER, February 11, 2020 – GLOBE Series, in partnership with Toronto Pearson and the City of Mississauga, today launched the Climate and Sports Initiative, the first program of its kind in Canada that uses sport as a platform to educate, engage and empower Canadians to protect our planet for future generations.
The multi-year initiative will harness the power of sports to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and to equip the public with concrete actions they can take to address it. The first campaign announced under the Climate and Sports Initiative is Save Pond Hockey, a series of community events involving Canadian Olympians that kicks off at the Toronto Pearson in Summer 2020.
The inaugural Save Pond Hockey event will feature one of Canada’s most decorated athletes, Hayley Wickenheiser, a former professional hockey player who represented Canada five times at the Winter Olympics. The event will invite members of the public to take part in an indoor shoot-out with Ms. Wickenheiser and other ViPs, while also making personal climate pledges that will be supported by a social media campaign. Information stations and in-person experts will be on hand to provide tips on how people can make a difference at home and in their communities.
The next phase of the program is expected to include a mentoring program that connects Canadian Olympians with schools and other community partners. The Olympian ambassadors will be trained on how people can take action so they can educate and empower communities to stop climate change in its tracks. Subsequent phases will also aim to provide guidance to communities on Save Pond Hockey and other community sporting events to drive awareness about climate change and how each of us can make an impact.
Today’s launch of the Climate and Sports Initiative in Vancouver at GLOBE 2020 features Meghan Agosta, a member of the Canada women’s national ice hockey team and a multiple gold and silver medalist at the Winter Olympics, and a video message from Ms. Wickenheiser.
Quotes
“Canada’s national sport provides a common language for talking about how our everyday choices affect the way we live, work and play. The Climate & Sports Initiative will empower every Canadian to get in the game when it comes to fighting climate change.” – Mike Gerbis, CEO of GLOBE Series
“Toronto Pearson is strongly committed to climate action and we are proud to be a founding partner of the Climate and Sports Initiative. We are in the business of connecting Canadians, and are excited to bring together Canadians with Olympic champions at the first-ever Climate and Sports event at Toronto Pearson in the summer.” – Todd Ernst, Director Aviation Infrastructure, Energy and Environment, GTAA
“The City of Mississauga is thrilled to be the first city in the country selected to partner on this innovative initiative, which will empower our residents to take action and develop tangible solutions to climate change. Whether it’s the condition of our sporting fields or the effect that air pollution is having on our athlete’s health and performance, we can no longer ignore the impact of a changing climate. We know that sport has the unique ability to bring people together and unite them under a common cause. I look forward to seeing how this initiative will help our City advance our Climate Change Action Plan while demonstrating the power of sport in helping build a more sustainable future.” – Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga
“As a professional athlete, I am excited to be part of an initiative focused on two things I really care about: addressing climate change and preserving the game I love. It’s inspiring to see business, government and the next generation of climate leaders working together on the Climate and Sports Initiative and making a difference.” – Meghan Agosta, Olympic Gold and Silver medalist and member of the Canada women’s national ice hockey team
“Pond hockey and playing on the outdoor rink has given me everything that I have in my life, and I want my kids and grandkids to have the same opportunity. I’m proud to be part of the Climate and Sports Initiative, where we can use sports to engage, inspire and educate Canadians and people around the world to save our climate.” – Hayley Wickenheiser, former professional hockey player and five-time Olympian
Quick facts
- A York University study predicts that By the late 21st century, 35,000 freshwater lakes — across three continents and 50 countries — could see permanent ice loss from warming winters if the global climate warms beyond the two-degree target set by the Paris Agreement. More than 40 per cent of the lakes with reduced ice levels in the late 21st century will be in Canada.
- The number of projected skating days is projected to decline by 34 percent in Toronto and 19 percent in Calgary by 2090.
- By 2050, less than half of the 21 cities that have hosted the Winter Olympics will be cold enough to host the games again, according to a 2018 study by Canada’s University of Waterloo. In the 2080s, that number will whittle down to just four cities – Calgary, Beijing, Albertville and Salt Lake City – if global warming is not curbed and temperatures rise 4.4C above pre-industrial levels.
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About GLOBE Series
GLOBE Series is the largest and longest-running sustainable business summit and innovation showcase in North America. GLOBE 2020 is the 30th anniversary of this iconic event, which has brought together 170,000 people from 97 countries since 1990.
GLOBE Series is part of a constellation of organizations that includes The Delphi Group, EXCEL Partnership and Leading Change. We work together toward a common purpose: to achieve a sustainable, prosperous and socially just future in a generation. We provide services and platforms that empower business, government and youth to improve performance while accelerating the clean economy. www.globeseries.com
About Toronto Pearson
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is the operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport. The GTAA’s vision is to make Toronto Pearson the best airport in the world. Towards this objective, the GTAA focuses on ensuring the safety and security of passengers and airport employees, enhancing the passenger experience and supporting the success of its airline partners. Toronto Pearson served more than 49.5 million passengers in 2018, making it Canada’s busiest airport. With 163 international routes, Toronto Pearson is also North America’s most internationally connected airport.
The GTAA’s climate change initiatives focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GhG) through energy reduction and adapting the airport to the changing climate. Because of these initiatives, we have received Level 3 certification in Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program. As of this year, the GTAA has achieved a 20% reduction in GhG emissions from a 2006 baseline, and has ambitious goals to achieve an 80% reduction in GhG emissions by 2050.
To learn more about the GTAA’s Environment program, please visit www.torontopearson.com/environment, or visit us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
About the City of Mississauga
As Canada’s sixth-largest city, Mississauga is home to 777,000 residents and more than 98,000 businesses, including more than 75 Fortune 500 companies with Canadian head offices or major divisional head offices. Mississauga is a diverse, progressive and award-winning municipality in the Greater Toronto Area, focused on delivering services, implementing its Strategic Plan, delivering value for money and maintaining infrastructure.
Our kids are starting a climate revolution. Let’s join them before it’s too late.
By Mike Gerbis, CEO, GLOBE Series
A few days ago, I sent a memo to all my staff encouraging them to leave the office today, Sept. 20 (or Sept. 27), and join the youth-led strikes and marches across Canada to highlight the need for urgent action to address climate change. After that, I sent emails out to fellow CEOs and business leaders I know urging them to give their staff time off to strike.
It’s not something I did lightly or without careful thought. I haven’t demonstrated publicly in more than 20 years; I prefer to work quietly behind the scenes, but I am convinced that it’s now time to take to the streets. Climate change is by far the most pressing emergency we face — and we are fast running out of time to deal with it. I believe mass peaceful civil action, emulating campaigns like the civil rights crusade in the U.S., will force our leaders to focus on what’s at stake and come together to find fair and feasible solutions.
The Global Climate Strike and week of action starting on Friday grew out of a youth climate movement whose de facto leader is Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish woman who has already made a big impression at events like the UN Climate Conference and the World Economic Forum. Her direct calls for action are aimed at all of the supposed grown ups in the room, and they spare no one.
Which is fair, because climate change is not a partisan issue. It is not an east-west or north-south issue. It is not even about politics. Climate change impacts all of us — and here at home, it impacts Canadians across all generations regardless of where they live, no matter what their political persuasion or economic standing. It threatens our businesses, our health, our children’s future, the natural environment we love and enjoy… everything all of us as a nation hold dear and treasure.
It’s time to ask: “what is the most we can do?” rather than “what is the least we need to do?” We have less than 11 years to avoid the very worst of what climate change can bring; we don’t have time for any more excuses. If you think I’m being alarmist, you are quite right. This is the time to be alarmist. The reasons are everywhere, from increasingly frequent mega-storms of unprecedented ferocity to heat waves, melting polar ice caps, droughts, famine, crop failure, the rise of respiratory disease as air pollution worsens, and the spread of diseases to new areas as the planet warms up.
And it all has an enormous cost, which is only going to increase as we delay significant action — higher health care costs, higher insurance premiums, more tax dollars spent on repairing damaged infrastructure, lower crop yields, rising food prices, declining standards of living, rising sea levels, loss of wildlife habitat… the list goes on.
Which is why standing in solidarity with youth during the climate marches is so important. We need to come together and make our voices heard like never before — and listen to the fears, hopes and dreams of those who are under-represented in the hallways of power, but whose future is at stake. We need an intergenerational social compact that sends an irrefutable signal to leaders of all political parties: we need to change now, and we need you to work with business and civil society to develop — and implement — a bold plan of action.
The plan will almost certainly be unpopular; it will demand big sacrifices by all of us and will not be easy, but we simply have no choice — we don’t have a moment to lose. We have to fight for our future, for the future of the youth who are marching in the streets, and for the future of our children and grandchildren.
To find a strike to join near you visit https://globalclimatestrike.net/#join
Mike Gerbis is CEO of GLOBE Series, which brings together leaders and innovators from business, government, and civil society to share knowledge, leverage opportunities and find solutions, and Chair of Leading Change, which helps equip sustainability leaders and young professionals between the ages of 19-35 with the skills and support networks they need to accelerate action towards a livable, inclusive future.
GLOBE Explainer: What You Need to Know About Elections Canada’s Position on Climate Change Advertising
Last week, the Canadian Press published a story claiming that Elections Canada had warned a number of environmental charities that climate change-related advertising could be considered a partisan activity and subject to regulation under the Canada Elections Act. The news garnered international attention, generated controversy and raised questions in a number of circles across the country.
GLOBE reached out to two experts in environmental and climate change law to clarify how this kind of regulation could impact your business or your charity. Here’s what we learned from Liane Langstaff, a lawyer at Gowling WLG with expertise in environmental law, land use planning law and Indigenous law; and Lisa DeMarco, a senior partner at DeMarco Allan LLP, Canada’s only boutique climate and energy law firm.
So, what is all the fuss about?
During federal election periods in Canada, organizations that spend over $500 on election-related advertising are required to register as third-party advertisers and are also subject to a $511,700 spending limit. This isn’t new — it happens during every federal election. The current controversy is about whether advertising about climate change is election-related advertising.
Why the sudden focus on climate change? According to the Canadian Press story, Elections Canada representatives said that climate change was particularly relevant to this election, because Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada, has expressed doubts about climate change.
The Canadian Press story suggested that organizations advertising about climate change would be required to register as third-party advertisers. Causing additional concern is that charities that register as third-party advertisers could be considered partisan and lose their charitable status.
Other social, economic and environmental issues would also be subject to this regulation, as they have been in previous years. Ms. DeMarco and others are keen to see the full suite of issues that Elections Canada is deeming partisan.
Since this article came out, Elections Canada has issued a clarifying statement from its Chief Electoral Officer, Stéphane Perrault. Critically, the statement spells out that the Canada Elections Act “does not prevent individuals or groups from talking about issues or publishing information.” This section of the act specifically regulates advertising during the election period. Further, to be governed by the Act, “the issue [featured in the advertising] must be clearly associated with a candidate or party.”
How does this implicate my business or my charity?
Ms. Langstaff clarified that you would only have to comply with this law if you’re spending advertising dollars on an issue that is associated with a political party or candidate during the election.
If your business or charity spends over $500 on advertising related to an election issue associated with a candidate or party, you will need to register with Elections Canada and abide by the $511,700 spending limit. More information from Elections Canada here.
What falls under the umbrella of advertising and what doesn’t?
Ms. Langstaff advises that websites, emails, social media posts, and door-to-door communications won’t be subject to the regulation.
However, if your organization is planning to fund advertisements during the election period related to a specific candidate’s or party’s platform on how to address climate change, you would need to register with Elections Canada and abide by the spending limit.
When does this regulation apply?
The regulation in question only applies during the election period. The Canadian federal election has not yet been called, — meaning the Governor General has not yet dissolved Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister — so the regulation does not yet apply.
The election is currently scheduled for Oct. 21, 2019, although it could be called earlier. The election period will begin when Parliament is dissolved and continue until the date of the election — between 36 and 50 days.
Could charities lose their charitable status if they register as third-party advertisers with Elections Canada?
Despite initial concerns that being labelled ‘partisan’ could affect an organization’s charitable status, Ms. Langstaff clarified that this is not necessarily the case. She confirmed that registering as a third-party advertiser with Elections Canada and registering as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency are two completely different processes that shouldn’t influence each other.
Should climate change be considered a partisan issue or a fact?
This is perhaps the central question at the heart of this controversy. Initial reports about Elections Canada’s stance suggested that sharing science that proves climate change’s existence could be construed as partisan. However, Elections Canada clarified this is not the case.
That being said, Elections Canada has said any organization advertising about climate change could be required to register during the election period because “the Act doesn’t speak to the substance of potential third-party issue advertising, nor does it make a distinction between facts and opinion.”
This has led environmental groups to ask Elections Canada for confirmation that they can advertise about the science of climate change without registering as third-party advertisers.
Ms. Langstaff and Ms. DeMarco were definitive on climate change as fact. Both agreed there is no debate about the science. Both the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and the Ontario Court of Appeal agreed that climate change is real in recent legal cases.
The only debate remaining is about what our politicians should do about climate change, and organizations advertising about particular policy positions will need to register as third-party advertisers, as they have in previous elections. On that front, here at GLOBE, we look forward to watching, reading and hosting informed debates on how our federal government can contend with perhaps the greatest challenge of our time – climate change.
Further Reading
To dive into this issue in more detail, check out the following links:
The clean economy is good for business
Matt Arnold is Global Head of Sustainable Finance at JPMorgan Chase & Co. His team’s remit is sustainable finance – helping firms capitalize on sustainability as a business and leadership opportunity, as well as navigate related policies and risks.
In 2017, JPMorgan Chase committed to sourcing renewable energy for 100 percent of its global power needs by 2020 – a significant goal given the firm has offices and operations in more than 60 countries across over 5,500 properties. In addition, the bank has committed $200 billion in clean financing by 2025, which will help other companies and governments accelerate their transition to a low-carbon economy.
Ahead of his speaker appearance at GLOBE Capital 2019, Matt shares his insights on the business opportunities in the clean economy.
The clean economy is good for business because it drives innovation, motivates employees, is increasingly profitable, and has the benefit of addressing climate change, one of our era’s major challenges.
The personal motivation angle is important to us at JPMorgan Chase. We are very proud of the work we do. We have three or four task forces across different business areas made up of a wide range of people who don’t normally work together, but who are highly motivated because the clean economy is our core business.
Many of our clients are pursuing renewable energy as a business opportunity. Others are exploring it from other perspectives: research, mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, and debt capital markets.
The early movers in solar and wind had to work hard to break down barriers, but are now seeing strong business results. I learned last week that there are 1,200 energy companies in Silicon Valley. There’s a great deal of innovation focussed on energy storage and energy transmission. You get a sense that people are working together on a huge societal problem, and it’s really motivating.
Three barriers to realizing the business opportunities in the clean economy
1. Economics
Fossil fuel prices are still very competitive, certainly for transportation fuel and particularly for aviation. I was in a meeting with a group of large integrated oil companies the other day, and some of them were investing in renewable energy but others weren’t. The discussion from those who weren’t was interesting: they said that the economics of fossil fuels are better, and that they didn’t really know enough about renewable energy to invest in it. Continuous education of the long-term economic opportunity that environmentally sustainable solutions present can therefore help boost investment in the sector.
2. Policy
We need clear policy signals in the U.S. on key issues like carbon pricing, methane emissions from energy production, renewables, and energy production tax credits. Having said that, many national and sub-national jurisdictions are making good progress. For example, Alberta has made strides towards cleaning up their oil industry, probably due to the province-wide policy framework.
3. Incumbency
A lot of new technologies haven’t been deployed at scale, and large incumbents in the power sector, including oil and gas, are not embracing these new technologies. It’s not that they’re against them, it’s that their business models don’t necessarily accommodate them.
Three ways to integrate sustainability in your organization
1. Develop a business case for sustainability
Without a firm business case, it will be difficult to overcome resistance to integrating sustainable business practices. Decision makers need to understand why it is good for business, for people, and for the bottom line.
2. Set strong environmental objectives and targets
Having a goal or a series of goals is really motivating, no matter whether it’s a revenue goal, capital goal, or installation goal. Measuring progress against your goals is also helpful. If you know you’re coming up short on your sustainability goals, you’re going to work harder.
3. Create a purposeful corporate culture
Ensure there is an employee engagement angle when embedding sustainable business practices – communicate, engage, and enlist the support of people throughout the organization. Employees often enjoy and are motivated by the notion that they are contributing to something bigger than themselves and the organization they work for.
The Capital conversation
Canada is an important market for us right now and I’m looking forward to meeting leaders from across the industry at GLOBE Capital 2019. We look forward to learning from them and sharing our own experience in advancing sustainability for our clients and in our own operations.
Announcing Executive Changes at GLOBE Series
If you had asked me how long I thought I’d stay in the job when I first started with GLOBE, I probably would have told you ‘a few years.’ And yet here I am, 25 years and 18 events later…
My tenure with GLOBE is not the result of complacency. Quite the opposite – it’s a result of being continually inspired and motivated to work in an area of the economy that has been full of riches – riches in terms of ideas, people, impact and opportunity. And things in this space have never been more exciting.
It’s time, however, for a change. I will be stepping down from my full-time role at GLOBE at the end of February, and working in a part-time capacity from March through May to see through some important projects and help manage the transition. This is a personal decision my colleagues and I have been preparing for over the past year. I have other things to do, other challenges to conquer, and I plan on taking some well-deserved time off.
I’m excited to share that we have recently hired Carol Becker as the Managing Director of GLOBE Series. This is a new role designed to enable us to thoughtfully move forward in a time of growth and increasing market complexity. Carol comes to us with tremendous leadership credentials, having worked for over 25 years in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. She has deep and diverse experience in event management, honed through having her own company and managing several others. She has a strong track record of optimizing teams, processes and structures so that companies can innovate and grow. As importantly, Carol shares our values and our passion for supporting and enabling the clean economy. Welcome, Carol!
It would be an understatement to say I’ve been immensely privileged to work with the colleagues, partners, clients and friends I have been blessed to get to know while working at GLOBE. You have all shaped GLOBE over the years into what it is today. Thank you for making these 25 years so richly rewarding, and so much fun!
I’m personally excited to watch how GLOBE Series and our sister organizations in the constellation evolve and grow so that they have even more impact in Canada and beyond.
I hope to see you at GLOBE Capital in Toronto in a few weeks.
Warm regards,
Nancy Wright
Chief Operating Officer
GLOBE Series