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Chang, Valerie

Canada has an almost notorious reputation for being environmentally unfriendly in the global context. From being the first nation to withdraw from the Kyoto protocol in 2011, to ranking last out of 27 wealthy countries in environmental protection, Canada has partially lost its all-round likable status. This has made numerous environmentalists eager to actualize a program where renewables would become the dominant energy source. However, cost is always at the top of the list of issues. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether it is practical to duplicate an energy transition in British Columbia, such that is currently being practiced in Germany. More specifically, would such a transition be affordable to BCʼs government, to home owners, and to power companies, and would it also create jobs? Through research of scholarly sources, this study finds that it is impractical for such an energy transition to be executed; however, if only the financial aspect is analyzed, it is possible for an affordable green energy transition that also creates jobs to be implemented in BC. Some recommendations if the results of this paper is to be acted upon, are to first test the program in a medium-sized city, to reduce consumption while also increasing dependence on renewables, and to learn from Ontarioʼs mistakes and resist high initial feed-in tariff rates.

Text

University of British Columbia. GEOG 419

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0075672

Arts, Faculty of; Geography, Department of

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/