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Climate Change is a tragedy of the Commons issue

Published

5 years ago

2 minute read

Harrie Vredenburg: “…The role of the United Nations in Climate Change goes back to how we think about Climate Change.

Climate Change is a tragedy of the “commons” issue and our thinking about Climate Change goes way back to the early 1800’s when in England there was a concern about over-grazing of commons pasture land.

People would graze their sheep on the pastureland and there was concern that the pasture would disappear altogether.  So somebody said I’m not going to graze my sheep there, but the problem was that if their neighbour increased the amount of grazing on their land, the problem wasn’t solved, but only the first farmer who didn’t graze their sheep there was hurt.

Same thing with Climate Change.  It’s a global “commons” problem.  And that’s why it needs the United Nations and why the UN has made several efforts to do so.

The first effort was the Kyoto Protocol and it was an effort to regulate globally climate issues. It was essentially a failure.  It was agreed in the 1990’s and then upon that agreement first of all, the United States opted not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.  Canada did ratify it but then opted not to execute on it, and then other countries dragged their heels and nothing was done about it … so the Kyoto Protocol was essentially a failure…”

Harrie Vredenburg, Professor University of Calgary Suncor Energy Chair

Producer’s Note: 

Thoughtful and intuitive metaphor here by Harrie with the tragedy of the commons using sheep as a metaphor to describe climate change. I often ask myself, wouldn’t it make sense if the world is going to use the oil anyways – does it make sense to use Canada’s oil?

Click here to for more of Harrie Vredenburg’s stories and videos on Todayville.

Click here to connect with Harrie on LinkedIn.

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Professor & Suncor Chair in Strategy & Sustainability, Haskayne School of Business & Research Fellow, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary

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Response to U.S. tariffs: Premier Smith

Published on March 4, 2025

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Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement following the implementation of U.S. tariffs:

“The tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are an unjustifiable economic attack on Canadians and Albertans. They also represent a clear breach of the trade agreement signed by this same U.S. President during his first term. These tariffs will hurt the American people, driving up costs for fuel, food, vehicles, housing and many other products. They will also cost hundreds of thousands of American and Canadian jobs. This policy is both foolish and a failure in every regard.

“This is not the way it should be between two of the world’s strongest trading allies and partners. We would much rather be working with the U.S. on mutually beneficial trade deals than be caught in the middle of a tariff war.

“Alberta fully supports the federal response announced today by the Prime Minister. I will be meeting with my cabinet today and tomorrow to discuss Alberta’s response to these illegal tariffs, which we will announce publicly tomorrow.

“Now is the time for us to unite as a province and a country. We must do everything in our collective power to immediately tear down provincial trade barriers and fast-track the construction of dozens of resource projects, from pipelines to LNG facilities to critical minerals projects. We must strengthen our trade ties throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas for all our energy, agricultural and manufactured products. We also need to drastically increase military spending to ensure we can protect our nation. There is no time to waste on any of these initiatives.

“I will have more to say tomorrow.”

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Alberta

Former Chief Judge of Manitoba Proincial Court will lead investigation into AHS procurement process

Published on March 3, 2025

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Deputy Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Christopher McPherson has issued the following statement on an independent third-party investigation into procurement and contracting processes used by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS):

Deputy Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Christopher McPherson has issued the following statement on an independent third-party investigation into procurement and contracting processes used by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS):

“While serving as Acting Deputy Minister of Executive Council, Premier Danielle Smith asked me to establish a credible, independent, third-party investigation into the procurement processes used by the Government of Alberta and AHS and their outcomes.

“I have informed Premier Smith that the Honourable Raymond E. Wyant, former Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba, will lead this investigation. I asked Premier Smith to issue a ministerial order to facilitate his work and she has done so. Judge Wyant’s work on this matter begins immediately.

“Judge Wyant was appointed to the Manitoba bench in 1998 before becoming Chief Judge in 2002. Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Wyant worked as a criminal defence lawyer and Crown attorney and was acting deputy director of Manitoba prosecutions at the time of his appointment to the Bench. He has also taught law for many years at Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba.

“Judge Wyant will review the relevant legislation, regulations and policies related to procurement typically used by Government of Alberta departments and agencies, specifically AHS, and their application to the procurement of pharmaceuticals and to services offered by chartered surgical facilities. Questions that Judge Wyant will consider are outlined in the attached terms of reference, and include whether or not any elected official, Government of Alberta or AHS employee, or other individuals, acted improperly during the procurement processes. Judge Wyant will make recommendations to the government for improvement or further action as appropriate.

“Appointed under the Government Organization Act, Judge Wyant will operate independently of government. The Government of Alberta will provide Judge Wyant with access to all relevant documents held by its departments and AHS, as well as facilitate interviews with relevant individuals.

“Judge Wyant has been given a budget of $500,000 to undertake this important work, including to retain legal and audit assistance at his discretion. He is being paid $31,900 per month, which is the same remuneration rate as the Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice.

“To ensure additional independence, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction will hold the budget for this third-party investigation.

“Judge Wyant will deliver an interim written report by May 30, 2025. A final written report and recommendations will be delivered by June 30, 2025, and it will be posted on alberta.ca.”

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