Alberta can benefit
By Letter to the Editor on October 23, 2019.
Greta Thunberg’s visit brings focus to an opportunity for Alberta to embrace the worldwide transition away from a fossil fuel-based economy and ensure long-term prosperity. In a 2018 report from the New Climate Economy, the impact of bold climate action is estimated to present a direct economic gain of US$26 trillion by 2030 compared to business as usual. The Alberta government can capitalize on this opportunity through incentivizing the market to invest in low-carbon technology, which can be exported all over the world. During this transition, working class jobs will be lost in the fossil fuel industry. However, this transition can lead to a net gain in jobs and there are options to help vulnerable workers adjust, for example by retraining oilsands workers to install wind or solar energy infrastructure. With the right policies, Alberta can benefit from climate action while helping those most vulnerable. Marlo Firme Vancouver 6-5
