Carbon Change

An investigation into the scale and costs of transitioning our energy systems to achieve net-zero emissions.

Canada and the rest of the developed world have committed to decarbonizing basic energy systems, but do this country's citizens and governments truly understand the sacrifices ahead - and once we do understand, will we accept those sacrifices in the name of reducing the impacts of climate change? Will the rest of the developed world take on the necessary costs, and will Canada forge ahead with decarbonization, even if other countries do not?

Carbon Change explores this most visceral of public policy choices for Canada, with a deep dive into major North American energy and climate policy from 2019 to the end of 2021, the enduring impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and political processes across the developed world with respect to dealing with climate change risks. It offers a dispassionate analysis of the scale and cost of trying to realize the aspiration of decarbonization. Dennis McConaghy asks if a more balanced and nuanced approach is possible to mitigate the extremes of the climate change impact, while still using hydrocarbons optimally to maximize global human welfare.