environmental crisis.
In the future, the demand for water is expected to increase in every sector — including energy, food production, industry, and mineral development, and by 2030, the world is expected to face a 40 per cent global shortfall between forecast demand and available supply.
Because of the connected global economy, increasing stress on the globe’s water will affect food and energy systems around the world. And within the next 15 to 20 years, deteriorating water security could trigger a global food crisis.
Climate change will add to this threat through more frequent and intense droughts and floods, increased evaporation, and rising seas that invade agricultural areas.
The federal government must therefore be the critical guardian of the national water resources, and implement strategies based on sound facts and cost-effective solutions. Unfortunately, the Harper Conservatives are fighting a war on both the environment and environmental science, having gutted and repealed environmental legislation — including the Fisheries Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act — and announced cuts of over 700 positions at Environment Canada, and cuts to research and monitoring initiatives, including air pollution, industrial emissions, water quality, waste water, etc. They have also silenced dissent from environmental non-governmental organizations and continue to muzzle government scientists to shut down the voices of informed and interested Canadians.
However, instead of persistently attacking the environment, the government should seize the opportunity. For example, although clean technology has emerged as a major driver of employment and innovation in Canada, and has the potential to increase its market share from $9 billion to $60 billion, today it captures only one per cent of the $1 trillion global industry.
Another opportunity lies in water strategy: the need for water solutions becomes increasingly urgent, and water spending is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2020.
Fortunately there is political will at the provincial level. For example, in 2010, the Council of the Federation, representing the ten provincial premiers and three territorial leaders, adopted a Water Charter to strengthen water conservation initiatives, make water use more efficient and encourage strong water efficiency and quality standards and regulations.
The federal government should build on this initiative and make water a focus, so that Canada can become a leading water solutions country — solving problems both at home and internationally. For
example, Canada must urgently address severe water conditions in First Nation communities, and ensure that water is efficiently used to protect our ecosystems. Moreover, Canada must address future needs, as our country will add another six million people by 2050, and billions will be needed to expand and upgrade our clean water and waste water facilities, create efficient water use, and improve water treatment in resource industries.
While addressing these national needs, Canada also has the potential to attract investment for businesses that require Canadian water expertise and management. The question for the government should therefore be, “How do we build a national water opportunities (or a blue economy) strategy to maximize Canadian capabilities, and who should lead such a plan?”
How do we focus on, build, and support cutting-edge research in water? How do we develop our skill sets in water research, smart regulation, management, operations and entrepreneurship? How can we help Canadian entrepreneurs fund and commercialize new water technologies? How do we meet our domestic water needs and build global strengths? How do we support and grow Canadian companies so that they can contribute to global solutions? How can we use our water management to attract
foreign investors?
Canada is well placed to become a global leader in water. For example, the Canadian Water Network, a national network of centres of excellence, can address practical challenges, be a source of new start-up companies, and train the next generation of researchers and skilled workers. Canada also has a relatively high level of water infrastructure regulation and water management systems; the most recent Conference Board of Canada report on the environment ranks Canada fourth of seventeen peer countries in water quality. Canada also has a growing number of competitive water companies providing goods and services to world markets.
It is therefore time the Harper Conservatives stopped pillaging the environment. At the end of this month, the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) water quality database — including 125 countries and 3,800 stations measuring 100 parameters — which has been managed by Canada since the 1970s, will come to an end, saving the government a paltry $851,000 per year. Also at risk of extinction by March 31 is the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), Canada’s world-renowned facility for freshwater research and education, which will save the government a measly $2 million annually. In fact, the government has already begun dismantling the station.
The Harper Conservatives must do everything in their power to protect our water, keep our water safe for future generations, and must develop a strategy for Canada to lead in the burgeoning blue economy.
Original Article
Source: ipolitics.ca
Author: Kirsty Duncan
No comments:
Post a Comment