CSPC 2022

Climate Change Decision Points: Exploring Tensions, Barriers and Opportunities in Reaching Net-Zero GHG Emissions by 2050
Points de décision sur le changement climatique : explorer les tensions, les obstacles et les possibilités pour atteindre des émissions nettes de GES nulles d’ici 2050

Panel Organized by: University of Regina

Canada’s climate change (“CC”) policy is advancing in mitigation (achieving net zero emissions) and adaptation (risk reduction and hazard/disaster planning). Addressing all aspects of CC will require transformative, intersectional (addressing inequality and the most vulnerable peoples), interdisciplinary, and intersectoral policy. Globally, and in Canadian policy, a gap exists between fragmented CC policy and achieving net zero and CC resilience goals. This panel will consider policy that is required to address CC through engagement with CC modeling (including Shared Socio-Economic Pathways (SSPs) - climate change scenarios based on narratives of social inequality, regional rivalry, or sustainability) and possible future pathways for achieving CC targets. The SSPs are part of a new scenario framework, established by the climate change research community in order to facilitate integrated analysis of future climate impacts, vulnerabilities, adaptation, and mitigation. The SSPs are based on narratives describing alternative socio-economic developments, including sustainable development, fossil-fuel development, natural resources and energy development, and technological advancement for hard to decarbonize sectors including steel and cement (with small modular reactors (SMRs) and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS)). Key tensions and barriers in future decision points necessary to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050 and adapt to climate change will be outlined. Interactive methods will involve the audience in virtual voting and determination of these future decision points resulting in the creation of a policy pathway for Canada’s future decarbonized world.