A new UN report suggests that investing approximately 2% of global GDP on in greening 10 key sectors of the economy will shift public and private capital flows onto an eco-friendly path. The new green economy model would deliver comparable, or otherwise higher, growth rates compared to a business-as-usual scenario, improve social equity, and drastically reduce environmental risks. Read the full news story at BBC News, and the full UN report at the UNEP website.
Centre for Civic Governance
The Centre for Civic Governance works to support community leadership meeting today’s social and environmental challenges: climate change, Canada’s increasing equity gap, and shifting social trends. At the Centre for Civic Governance, our goal is to strengthen Canadian communities through sharing best practices, providing tools for locally elected leaders, and progressive policy analysis. We strive to provide knowledge and information to make real and positive social change.
Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Resolution – CETA – September 2010
Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Resolution – CETA – September 2010
October 2010, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) pass a resolution calling on the provincial government to negotiate a clear, permanent exemption for local governments from CETA.
WHEREAS the Canadian government has entered into negotiations with the European Union for a comprehensive economic trade agreement;
AND WHEREAS European corporations are insisting on full access to procurement by sub national governments – including local governments, school boards, universities, hospitals and other provincial agencies, which could significantly reduce or eliminate the right to specify local priorities when public money is invested in goods, services or capital projects;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM request:
• a briefing from the Province of BC on the scope and content of trade negotiations with the European Union;
• the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to provide sector-by-sector analysis of the potential impacts on municipal functions and powers of the procurement regime that the European Union is seeking;
• the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to urge the government of Canada not to provide the European Union with access to sub national government procurement; and
• that the provincial government negotiate a clear, permanent exemption for local governments from CETA.
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Resolution – CETA – September 2010
September 2010, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) pass a resolution calling on the federal government to respect municipal autonomy in trade negotiations with the European Union.
MUNICIPAL IMPACT OF CANADA AND EUROPEAN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP TRADE AGREEMENT
WHEREAS The Government of Canada has entered into negotiations with the European Union for an EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; and
WHEREAS The Government of Canada and the European Union have developed a mandate to seek an ambitious agreement that would negotiate a wide range of areas, included central and sub-central government procurement; and
WHEREAS Provinces and Territories are responsible for implementing any treaty obligations resulting from such trade negotiations; and
WHEREAS municipal governments have expressed an interest in local sustainable economic development which can be impacted by a Canada European Trade Agreement that could reduce or eliminate the right to specify local priorities when public money is invested in goods, services or capital projects; therefore, be it
RESOLVED That the Federation of Canadian Municipalities encourage the Government of Canada to inform municipalities of those aspects of the Trade Negotiations which may affect municipal government procurement and, further, to protect the right of municipalities to specify local priorities in purchasing decisions, be it further
RESOLVED That FCM call on the Government of Canada to adopt a negotiating position that supports reciprocity in Canadian and European Union municipal procurement practices.
Now Look Who’s Big on Buying Local
Campaigns aimed at supporting local economies are gaining popularity, especially in BC. Writer Darren Barefoot has made a commitment to buy only Canadian products and services for an entire year, and the BC chapter of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced its “Ten Percent Shift Campaign” to encourage British Columbians to shop locally. Read the full story in The Tyee.
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
The Rio Declaration is a document produced at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNED), or Earth Summit, in Rio de Janerio in 1992. It is a framework consisting of 27 guiding principles for future sustainable development across the globe. Read the full declaration here.
Agenda 21
Agenda 21 is the UN’s action plan for sustainable development at the global, national and local scales by international organizations in every area where humans impact the environment. It was adopted by over 178 governments at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janerio in 1992, and includes strategies for combating poverty, overconsumption, and environmental degradation. Read the full agenda here.
Our Common Future
The Brundtland Commission and UN World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) wrote the report Our Common Future in 1987 to emphasize the importance of sustainable development for social, economic, and environmental agendas. The report defines sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs", and advocates it as a means to blend the fulfilment of human needs with environmental protection. Read the report here.
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community to decrease GHG emissions to 5% against 1990 levels over the 5-year period 2008-2012. The rules for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol were outlined in the ‘Marrakesh Accords’ in 2001. Read the Kyoto Accord here, and read about how different countries are taking action here.
COP-15 Copenhagen Accord
The Copenhagen Accord is the outcome of the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The accord promotes the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and recognizes the crucial role of immediate climate change action, yet it does not establish quantitative targets and does not legally bind participant nations to any of its provisions. Despite the numerous shortfalls of the accord, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction. Read the Copenhagen Accord here.
350.org
350 parts per million is the upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and anything above and beyond this level could result in human and natural catastrophes. 350.org is an international campaign aimed at building a movement to solve the climate crisis, and has organized rallies across the world and garnered support from many prolific icons. Get more information on the 350.org website.
Climate Action Network
The Climate Action Network (CAN) is an international network of over 550 NGOs working to encourage governments and individuals to reduce human-caused climate change. CAN’s vision is to protect environmental integrity while promoting sustainable and equitable global development. CAN works to achieve this through information sharing and the collective development of NGO strategies on international, regional and national climate issues.
Partners for Climate Action
The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program is an association of municipal governments from across the nation that have committed to acting on climate change and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. PCP is the Canadian constituent of the ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) association, which is comprised of over 900 communities across the globe. Find out more information on the PCP website.