ABCtech #33 25JAN15 Climate Change is in

ABCtech #33 25JAN15 Climate Change is in

QuikTech Notes  25-JAN-15 REPRINT Special Edition – Climate Change?

Alberta has been weathering a very, very “busy” period of high spending and rapid growth. We have been the subject of attention by many interests during this period of astounding prosperity. But times have changed – very fast, calling for the players to think ahead, shrink expectations and act quickly. These are times that build character and test our relationships. It is also a time allowing attention to issues earlier ignored. We are being watched.

Crises inspire innovation – that is our belief and has been the subject of several recent Special Editions about diversification, public financing and inspiring creativity thorough relationship building between the arts and technology.

To sustain the momentum, we are exploring the very delicate issue of Climate Change. This is a topic dear to Albertans, our neighbours and our partners. It is an issue warranting the convergence of policies governing energy and environment, an issue calling for creativity in responding to a new reality – the volatile price of carbon.

A discussion on Climate Change reveals the inter-relationship between energy and environment and can serve to inspire creativity in the application of technology for addressing a wide range of related issues in: transportation, health, international relations, agriculture, education, financing, and public procurement.

Acknowledging Climate Change stirs both global thinking and taking care of tomorrow today.  Consider ….

  For those with “… a new found respect for the environment” …

Is global warming a fact? Over what time period and who says so? VIEWPOINT

Are the oceans at risk, threatening coastal living?  VIEWPOINT

And if so, what are the implications for Alberta?

Alberta’s position is expressed HERE “Alberta’s climate change strategy reflects the Alberta government’s commitment to protecting our environment, maintaining a healthy economy, and securing Albertans’ quality of life.”

“Climate Change” is in!

Market. The public believes climate change to be a reality, with significant implications for public policy and corporate investment.

Corporate. Our discussions with business, big and small, reinforce the view that corporations are taking climate change seriously both as an investment opportunity and a threat given the geo-political implications

Government. Alberta’s carbon-based economy is tied tight to the environment – that is, Alberta’s GDP is carbon dependent and energy/environment policies are co-dependent:

• Oil, gas, coal – carbon for mining/Energy
• Wheat, meat – carbon for food/Agriculture.
• Timber, pulp – carbon for construction/Forestry
• Water, air – in processing carbon

The use of carbon ALWAYS affects the quality and availability of both air and water. This insight for ABCtech was the focus of our Conference in 2010 yielding 40 associated resolutions  HERE  including the formation of the Alberta CleanTech Industry Association (ACTia)

Also relevant was ABCtech’s subsequent role in assessing the merit of electrifying transportation (2010) and earlier exploration in 2007 of fusion energy with the subsequent formation of the Alberta/Canada Fusion Energy Program and our international assessment of the status of fusion energy HERE advocating for Alberta/Canada to prepare for a post-carbon economy and recommending:

1. Formalizing Canada’s participation in rapidly developing fusion energy research programs in Europe, Asia and the USA
2. Giving priority to industrial development in fields for advancing and capitalizing on fusion for energy, e.g. advanced materials, photonics, energy analytics
3. Accepting the offer to locate the world’s first fusion demonstration plant in Alberta for employing heat for industrial purposes – in the near term for extraction and upgrading of bitumen for energy, and in the longer term to meet anticipated demand for carbon-dense products and materials.

The challenge to change and take the future of Alberta’s economy seriously has been impeded by faith in sustained prosperity tied to carbon for energy. BUT as the faith has been shaken, Climate Change is in focus and may serve to galvanize “diversifying Alberta’s economy through technology”.

pwc’s 18th Annual Global CEO Survey

• 39% of CEOs are very confident about their company’s growth prospects
• 78% of CEOs are concerned about over-regulation
• 1,322 CEOs interviewed in 77 countries
• 56% of CEOs think cross-sector competition is on the rise

EVENTS

BioTech Alberta

 Speaker Series Launch

January 27th, Edmonton

FOR MORE

REGISTER HERE

Eric Geddes Breakfast Lecture Series

“Diversifying Alberta through Innovation & Entrepreneurship”

February 12th, Edmonton

FOR MORE

REGISTER HERE

Alberta Council of Technologies

Creativity & Convergence Conference – “Engineering innovation”

March 24th, Edmonton

SAVE the DATE

The Conference Board of Canada

Business Innovation Summit 2014

April 28/29th, Toronto

FOR MORE

Special Rate for ABCtech Members $495

WaveFront Summits

IOT Summit and Mobile Enterprise

May 5/6th, Ottawa

FOR MORE

REGISTER HERE

Letter-to-the Editor

As we have already discussed, Peter Lougheed came into power in Alberta in 1971.  The theme of his mandate was “value added”. And that is where the emphases and efforts should be directed. We don’t have the work force or the brain power to manufacture or innovate but we do have oil and lumber and beef, etc. Lets add value to these wonderful resources that we are blessed with. And we need to turn to automation so we do not get into the labor shortage trap.That is where the economic future for Alberta is. We need to get the message to the Government, Venture Capitalists and the Business community.  – Abe Silverman

HELP WANTED.  We are developing a scorecard for monitoring the status of Alberta’s economic diversification and seeking lessons learned from other jurisdictions. Please just REPLY with ideas, editorials or referrals.