Speech by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, at GLOBExCHANGE 2025
Strengthening Our Economy with Climate Action
February 14, 2025
Good morning, everyone. I’m delighted to be here at GLOBExCHANGE 2025 to talk about how we can strengthen our economy with climate action.
As you know, the world is facing a climate crisis. The effects of climate change are already being felt around the world, in the form of more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and changing plant and animal life.
Canada is not immune to these effects. In fact, we are one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. We are already seeing more extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and wildfires. These events are costing us billions of dollars in damages and putting lives at risk.
But climate change is not just a threat to our environment. It is also a threat to our economy.
Climate Change Poses Economic Risks
Climate change poses a number of economic risks to Canada. These include:
- Direct costs, such as the damages caused by extreme weather events and the costs of adapting to climate change.
- Indirect costs, such as the loss of tourism and recreation revenue, and the decline in the value of coastal property.
- Systemic risks, such as the risk of financial instability and the risk of conflict and displacement.
Climate Action is Good for the Economy
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There is a lot that we can do to address climate change and protect our economy. In fact, taking action on climate change can actually help us grow our economy.
Here are some of the ways that climate action can benefit the economy:
- Creating jobs. Investing in clean energy and energy efficiency can create millions of new jobs in Canada.
- Reducing energy costs. Making our homes and businesses more energy-efficient can save us money on our energy bills.
- Improving our air quality. Taking action on climate change can help to improve our air quality, which can lead to better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
- Boosting innovation. Investing in clean energy and energy efficiency can help to drive innovation and create new technologies that can be exported to other countries.
Canada’s Climate Plan
The Government of Canada is committed to taking action on climate change. We have developed a comprehensive climate plan that will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions, grow our economy, and create jobs.
Our climate plan includes a number of measures, such as:
- Investing in clean energy and energy efficiency.
- Putting a price on carbon pollution.
- Planting two billion trees.
- Helping businesses and industries to reduce their emissions.
- Supporting climate adaptation and resilience.
Conclusion
Taking action on climate change is not just the right thing to do for our environment. It is also the right thing to do for our economy. By investing in climate solutions, we can create jobs, reduce energy costs, improve our air quality, and boost innovation.
I urge you to join us in taking action on climate change. Together, we can build a clean, prosperous, and sustainable future for Canada.
Thank you.
Speech for the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, at GLOBExCHANGE 2025 – Strengthening Our Economy with Climate Action
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