THIS WEEK
A big week for climate news down south, how Canada feels about it, and the country that's keen to step up.
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REPORT
The transition takes hold
Clean energy is here to stay, and no one—not even U.S. President Donald Trump—can stop the transition now. Such is the conclusion of our new report, The Transition Takes Hold, the latest in our annual Tracking the Energy Revolution series. "As the U.S. government retreats from international climate diplomacy, clean-energy innovation and free trade, it leaves a gap that Canada is well positioned to fill," write Clean Energy Canada's Merran Smith and Dan Woynillowicz in the Globe and Mail.
Just look at the big-picture numbers: Since 2011, annual investments in renewable electricity have exceeded those in fossil power (and total nearly $2.5 trillion over that time span). There were 6.7 million clean power jobs worldwide in 2015. And solar and wind technology costs keep falling. For more context, you can read our latest report here.
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Trump's huuuge climate plans are not too big to fail
Here's a rundown of what you need to know about President Trump's plan to dismantle the Clean Power Plan. But, like we said above, not even Trump can stop clean energy now, as this Bloomberg story outlines.
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Trudeau: Canada is committed to carbon pricing
"We know that climate change means that we’re going to have to walk down a lower carbon path in the coming decades. The question is, do we want to be dragged into that future kicking and screaming or do we want to lead it, like the innovators we can be,” the prime minister said.
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China: the world's new major climate leader
The climate politics unfolding stateside leave a gap one country in particular is keen to fill. “China wants to take over the role of the U.S. as a climate leader, and they’ve baked it into their five-year plans,” Natural Resources Defense Council's Barbara Finamore tells the New York Times.
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And here's who is leading the pack in Canada
Clean energy projects are becoming increasingly commonplace in many Indigenous communities across Canada, helping remote areas become more self-sustaining and economically stable. Industry watchers say First Nations are ahead of the curve.
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Clean energy will save the UAE a lot of money
The United Arab Emirates says clean energy will (literally) pay off. The country, which plans to invest $150 billion in clean power by 2050, says it anticipates a savings of $192 billion as it transitions away from subsidized natural gas.
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This is what we mean by a global market
Canadian company Ballad Power Systems has seen its shares go up 80 per cent since July. The reason? China—by far Ballard's biggest market—is buying its fuel cells, which convert hydrogen to electricity, at a rate never seen before as it deploys a fleet of hydrogen buses.
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Hyundai speeds up in the electric car race
South Korean automaker Hyundai says it's developing an architecture for electric vehicles. And in the meantime, the company plans to launch an electric SUV based on existing underpinning in the next year or so. The compact SUV will have a 300-km range.
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Toronto gets one less gas plant
The Eglinton Crosstown light-rail transit line in Toronto will no longer be powered by a gas plant. Local residents had cited pollution concerns, and this week the region's transit authority, Metrolinx, agreed to build a battery energy storage system instead.
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Putting the new in Newmarket
And speaking of Ontario, just north of the centre of the universe, six electric buses will hit the roads in Newmarket as part of a provincial pilot project. The buses produce zero carbon pollution and will cut back on noise pollution.
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WATCH: Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna on why Trump's efforts to roll back climate policy could fall flat. Via CTV Power Play.
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Clean Energy Review is sponsored in part by Genus Capital Management, a leading provider of fossil-fuel-free investments.
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FRONT BURNER
Global Learning Forum 2017
May 17-19 | Vancouver
At last, an event for urban nerds and climate geeks alike. In May, join Renewable Cities for Global Learning Forum 2017, a three-day dialogue on the transition to 100 per cent renewable energy in cities. More than 400 leaders from the private sector, NGOs, academia, government and utilities will engage on topics such as policy development, building political goodwill, financing and all things green and urban. Learn more.
April 3 | Calgary
The Battle for the Hearts and Wheels of the Market
Is the oil industry's century-old monopoly on transportation ending? What would it mean for investors and policy makers? A one-day forum hosted by Peter Tertzakian and Jackie Forrest of ARC Energy Research Institute. Learn more.
April 11 | Webinar
High Performance Housing: Better Homes for BC
What makes a high-performance house? Gary Hamer from BC Hydro’s Advanced DSM Strategy group and Bob Deeks of the Net Zero Energy Housing Council of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association will tackle that question from both a technical and financial perspective. Learn more.
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IMAGE & MEDIA CREDITS
Video: CTV
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