K_Warsh

 The US is getting a new Gevernor for the Fed: Kevin Warsh (a Stanford U graduate).

On reading up on Mr Warsh, found a reference to the Group of 30, and decided to investigate.

Below...

Copilot:

Group of 30; does Canada currently have a member in this economic advisory group?

Yes — Canada does currently have representation in the Group of 30 (G30).  

The most prominent Canadian member is Mark Carney, former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. He has been involved in G30 work, including co‑chairing major committees. 

Canada’s Presence in the G30

Mark Carney

Former Governor, Bank of Canada

Former Governor, Bank of England

Former Senior UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance

Co‑chaired the G30 steering committee on the “Mainstreaming the Transition to a Net Zero Economy” report (2020) 

What the G30 Is

An international, invitation‑only group of central bankers, economists, and financial leaders.

Focuses on global monetary policy, financial stability, and economic governance. 

If you want, I can also list the full current membership or outline what influence the G30 actually has on global policy.

What is a net zero economy?

A net‑zero economy is one where the total greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere are balanced by the amount removed. In other words, emissions don’t have to be literally zero — but whatever is still emitted must be offset by credible, measurable absorption.

Core idea

A net‑zero economy reaches a point where

Emissions produced - Emissions removed = 0

That balance can be achieved through a mix of reducing emissions and increasing removals.

How a net‑zero economy works

1. Deep emissions cuts

Most sectors must dramatically reduce their emissions:

Electricity: shift to renewables, hydro, nuclear, and storage

Transport: electrification, clean fuels

Buildings: efficient heating, insulation, heat pumps

Industry: low‑carbon steel, cement, chemicals

Agriculture: improved soil management, methane reduction

2. Carbon removal

For the emissions that remain (e.g., aviation, heavy industry), the economy relies on:

Natural sinks: forests, wetlands, soils

Engineered solutions: carbon capture and storage (CCS), direct air capture

3. Structural economic changes

A net‑zero economy isn’t just about technology. It also involves:

New investment patterns

Updated regulations and standards

Shifts in consumer behavior

Innovation in materials, energy systems, and industrial processes

Why countries pursue it

To limit global warming and climate risks

To modernize infrastructure and energy systems

To stay competitive as global markets shift

To reduce long‑term economic damage from climate impacts

What it doesn’t mean

It doesn’t mean eliminating all emissions

It doesn’t require stopping economic activity

It doesn’t rely solely on offsets — reductions must come first

If you want, we can dig into how Canada specifically plans to reach net‑zero, or how realistic the models are from an economic or physical‑systems perspective.

That was 2020; what is the rallying point now?

The rallying point has shifted away from “net‑zero by 2050” as the central banner and toward something more urgent and more economically grounded.

Across 2024–2026, the dominant unifying theme is now:

➡️ “Climate Resilience + Rapid Decarbonization”

A dual focus: cut emissions fast and adapt economies to unavoidable climate impacts.

This isn’t just rhetoric — it’s the consistent message emerging from global institutions, scientific reports, and economic coalitions.

🌍 Why this is the new rallying point

1. Scientific consensus: impacts are no longer future — they’re here now

Recent global assessments emphasize that the planet’s “vital signs are flashing red,” and climate impacts are already unfolding.   

This has forced a shift from long‑term goals to immediate risk management.

2. UN and COP messaging: resilience + accelerated action

UN climate updates stress that although progress has been made, the world is still heading toward ~3°C of warming — far above safe levels.

They highlight that the “real economy” is aligning with climate goals, but adaptation and resilience must now scale rapidly. 

3. Economic leadership: the “climate economy” is now a growth engine

The World Economic Forum’s climate leaders argue that the climate economy is already delivering returns, and that resilience investments are essential because some impacts are now locked in.   

This reframes climate action as economic modernization, not sacrifice.

4. Geopolitical reality: crises have disrupted the net‑zero narrative

Conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan have diverted attention and resources, forcing climate policy to integrate with energy security and economic stability.

Yet 2025–2026 reports highlight new technological momentum (green hydrogen, CCS, storage) as bright spots. 

🔥 So what is the rallying point now?

“Build resilience while decarbonizing as fast as possible.”

This includes:

Massive clean‑energy build‑out (already >90% of new power capacity globally is renewable) 

Adaptation investments (infrastructure, agriculture, water systems)

Climate‑aligned industrial policy (battery supply chains, hydrogen, critical minerals)

Economic framing: climate action as a driver of returns, resilience, and growth

Risk framing: climate impacts are now a present economic threat, not a future one

🇨🇦 What this means for Canada (and Quebec)

Canada’s climate strategy is increasingly framed around:

Resilient infrastructure (flooding, wildfire, northern permafrost)

Clean‑tech industrial policy (EV supply chain, critical minerals, hydrogen)

Grid expansion + electrification

Economic competitiveness in a world where major economies are decarbonizing fast

For Quebec specifically:

Hydropower gives a structural advantage

Electrification of transport and industry is the core pathway

Climate resilience (flooding, heat, forest fires) is now a major policy driver

If you want, we can go deeper

I can map:

How this shift affects global markets

How Canada’s policies align (or don’t) with the new rallying point

Whether the “resilience + rapid decarbonization” framing is physically and economically plausible

How this changes commodity cycles (metals, energy, carbon markets)

Where would you like to take it?

The US is putting its priorities elsewhere; how is Canada responding? Are we still

keeping an eye on climate concerns?

Canada hasn’t abandoned climate concerns, but the tone and priorities have shifted because of three pressures:

the United States pivoting toward energy security and industrial competition,

domestic affordability concerns,

the physical reality of climate impacts hitting harder each year.

What Canada is doing now is less about grand slogans and more about pragmatic climate‑economy management.

🇨🇦 Canada’s Current Climate Posture (2024–2026)

1. Canada is still committed to climate targets — but the strategy is becoming more flexible

Canada hasn’t walked away from its 2030 or 2050 goals.

But the federal government is now emphasizing:

“practical pathways”

“sector‑by‑sector realism”

“economic competitiveness”

This is a response to the U.S. shifting focus toward industrial policy, energy dominance, and geopolitical priorities.

Canada can’t afford to fall behind economically, so climate policy is being reframed as industrial strategy, not moral mission.

🇨🇦 2. Climate policy is now tied to economic competitiveness

Instead of leading with “net‑zero,” Canada is leading with:

EV and battery supply chains

critical minerals (Quebec is central here)

clean electricity expansion

hydrogen and biofuels

carbon capture for heavy industry

This is Canada’s way of staying aligned with U.S. industrial incentives (like the Inflation Reduction Act) without appearing to “chase” the U.S.

It’s climate action through economic modernization.

🇨🇦 3. Adaptation and resilience have become unavoidable priorities

Canada is experiencing:

record wildfire seasons

severe flooding

heat waves

northern permafrost collapse

So the federal and provincial governments are investing heavily in:

wildfire response

flood‑proofing infrastructure

climate‑resilient agriculture

northern community protection

This is the “resilience” half of the new global rallying point.

🇨🇦 4. Provinces are diverging — but Quebec remains a climate leader

Some provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan) are pushing back on federal climate rules.

Others (BC, Quebec) are accelerating.

Quebec, in particular:

has a clean grid (hydro)

is electrifying transport faster than the rest of Canada

is central to the North American battery supply chain

is investing in climate‑resilient infrastructure

Quebec’s climate posture is stronger than the national average.

🇨🇦 5. Canada is watching the U.S. closely — but not copying it

The U.S. shift toward:

energy dominance

industrial competition

geopolitical focus

…means Canada must protect its own competitiveness.

So Canada is:

matching U.S. incentives where possible

securing supply chains

maintaining climate commitments but with more flexibility

avoiding policies that would put Canadian industry at a disadvantage

This is a balancing act, not a retreat.

⭐ Bottom line

Canada hasn’t dropped climate concerns.

But the approach has evolved into:

“Climate action that protects the economy, strengthens supply chains, and builds resilience.”

It’s less ideological, more pragmatic, and deeply shaped by U.S. behavior.

If you want, we can map:

how this affects Quebec specifically,

whether Canada’s climate strategy is physically plausible,

or how global commodity cycles (metals, energy) shift under this new posture.