Canada’s policies on climate change need to be structured to maintain competitiveness in the country’s economy, according to the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC).
This requires “the next generation of climate change programmes and policy”, accounting for the global nature of the problem and how it is shaped by the economy, FPAC said.
Avrim Lazar, FPAC president and chief executive officer, outlined four tests that can be levied against the federal government’s policies, including does it allow Canadian industry to adopt a low carbon future, does it keep Canada’s trade position strong, is it tailored to meet the needs of international markets and has it prepared for a changed climate?
“Regardless of what’s happening with the Toronto Stock Exchange or New York Stock Exchange, now is the time to fully integrate competitive economic thinking into environmental planning,” said Mr Lazar.
“Industry has no choice but to take action on climate change in order to remain competitive – our customers around the world demand it. And more than ever before, we need to know our governments are on board.”
FPAC’s call came shortly after Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative party were re-elected as the ruling party on Tuesday.
