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ISBN: 9781459413474

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The Big Stall

How big oil and think tanks are blocking action on climate change in Canada

This book traces the origins of the Trudeau government’s climate change plan back to the energy sector itself — in particular Big Oil. It shows how, in the last fifteen years, Big Oil has infiltrated provincial and federal governments, academia, media and the non-profit sector to sway government and public opinion on the realities of climate change and what needs to be done about it. It examines how by working both behind the scenes and in high-profile networks Canada’s energy companies moved the debate away from discussion of the measures required to create a zero-carbon world and towards market-based solutions that will cut carbon dioxide emissions — but not enough to prevent severe climate impacts. The book argues that this is how Big Oil and think tanks have unraveled the Kyoto Protocol, and how Rachel Notley came to deliver the Business Council of Canada’s energy plan. The result is a situation where oil companies are able to determine their own futures in Canada, and to go on drilling new wells, building new oil sands plants and constructing new pipelines.

Contributors

Donald Gutstein

DONALD GUTSTEIN is a former professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University and co-director of NewsWatch Canada, a media-monitoring project at the school. He is the author of Harperism: How Stephen Harper and his think tank colleagues have transformed Canada as well as four other books on the links between large corporations, politics and the media. He lives in Vancouver.
Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

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Compares and contrasts the energy policies of Pierre and Justin Trudeau to demonstrate the shift from a government able and willing to intervene in the economy to pursue the national interest to … 3 $0.30

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Analyzes the rise of neo-liberalism think tanks in Canada and their impact on energy policy through the 1970s and 1980s. Trudeau’s Keynesian interventions such as the NEP and Petro Canada … 18 $1.80

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Describes the business lobby’s tactics to contain environmentalism propaganda, including the use of think tanks, during the 1970s and 1980s. Details the rise of neo-liberalism via the Mont … 24 $2.40

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Analyzes the tactic of "greenwashing" and the use of terms like "sustainable development" allowing big business to adopt the language of environmentalism but none of the … 16 $1.60

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Discusses how, by the mid 1990s, the federal Liberals are firmly committed to neo-liberalism. Finance Minister Paul Martin slashes corporate taxes while the party introduces "voluntary" … 14 $1.40

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Examines the business led campaign to discredit the Kyoto Accord in the 1990s and 2000s. Big business lobbied for a "made in Canada" solution while funding a massive anti-Kyoto … 20 $2.00

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Reviews competing economic theories about tackling pollution. Explains Edmund Pigou’s work on "externalities" and neo-liberal ideas. An analysis of the two major policy proposals … 21 $2.10

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Discusses how corporations came to recognize climate change as a profitable opportunity, and how public policy shifted from regulation of carbon emissions to measures that corporate leaders … 16 $1.60

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Analyzes neo-liberal environmental policies which avoided any negative impact on corporations during the 2000s. The British Columbia carbon tax is used as a case study to show how it is business … 14 $1.40

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Describes how neo-liberals came to embrace carbon taxes as well as the neo-liberal approach to carbon taxation. Presents progresive economists’ critique of the BC carbon tax which aruges … 22 $2.20

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Analyzes the 2015 Paris Accord on climate change and reports on how the proceedings came to be dominated by corporate interests. Analyzes the impact of decades of well funded denialism. Suggests … 22 $2.20

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Analyzes the relationship between the oil industry and the Alberta government. The industry’s approach shifted to accepting a cap on carbon emissions which permitted ongoing operations and … 21 $2.10

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Analyzes the Alberta NDP government of Rachel Notley and its policies in response to climate change. Concludes that these policies guarantee that the oil industry’s extraction will continue … 15 $1.50

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Analyzes Justin Trudeau’s environmental policies and his alliance with Rachel Notley. Liberal Party policies speak about capitalizing on the opportunities of a low carbon economy, but fail … 20 $2.00

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Examines why climate scientists believe it is imperative to limit warming to no more than 2 degrees celsius. Discusses why turning to natural gas, as is advocated by energy corporations and many … 21 $2.10

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Discusses an alternative approach to dealing with climate change: abandon neo-liberal measures and shift to a zero growth economy with redistribution of existing wealth. Action requires … 17 $1.70