Good morning subscribers!
 
The recent release of Ontario’s Environment Plan has sparked several conversations on environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and land conservation. These issues are often complex since they involve various key factors that affect both Canada’s economy and the well-being of the population. Today’s Brief includes a variety of articles that reflect nuanced conversations on policy’s role in protecting the environment! Read on for more.

Today’s Weekly Brief was prepared by Jasper Paredes. Sign up here to receive the Weekly Brief directly to your inbox.

Protecting the Environment and Fighting Climate Change

• On November 29th, 2018, Environment Minister Rod Phillips announced the Ontario government’s long-awaited Environment Plan. This policy document was meant to formally outline the strategies and policies that Ontario would use to protect and preserve our environment for generations to come. However, Megan Mattes explains why the Plan fails to communicate a realistic or strong commitment to reducing GHG emissions or fighting climate change. [Mattes/PPGR]

• Who knew that bees were so important to both the environment and the economy? Breanne Bateman explains the environmental and economic impacts of the decline in the native bee population.  She also outlines some of the current policies and environmental initiatives designed to protect bees and promote pollination. [Bateman/PPGR]

• A 2018 report issued by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that if governments do not take significant action on climate change, global warming is likely to reach 1.5 C between 2030 and 2052. Allowing global warming to reach this level from the approximate 1.0 C  level it is currently at would significantly increase the risk of drought, wildfires, floods, and food shortages for people the world over. However, there exists several challenges that inhibit the development of effective climate change solutions. Mike Colledge outlines three of these challenges and provides some practical advice on how to address them.  [Mike Colledge/Global News]

• The costs of not curbing GHG emissions are rising. With climate change increasing the frequency and likelihood of extreme weather events, weather-related insurance claims for events like floods and forest fires have increased. For example, the Insurance Bureau of Canada reports that Canadian insurers are now facing increased claims on natural disasters with a total value of roughly $1-billion annually. Furthermore, Glen Hodgson explains how climate change is increasingly damaging personal property and public infrastructure, which increases government spending on relief and recovery. [Glen Hodgson/Globe and Mail]

That’s it for us this week! Thanks for reading!

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