20 THE CAAR COMMUNICATOR provincial and three territorial governments believe that climate change is real and that Canada, as a global partner, must do its best to reduce its GHG emission output. And it’s all being done without telling industries how each needs to reduce its GHG emission levels; it’s just a federal government request that they do so by 2030. As far as we know, there are no global penalties in place for Canada if it doesn’t meet the United Nations 2030 target other than public shaming, but it’s not like we aren’t trying to be good global citizens. Canada’s agricultural industry is being asked to make sweeping alterations to how it grows its food, and even though how you make those sweeping changes is being left solely up to the individual farmer, Canadian farmers are being asked to ensure that their yield isn’t negatively affected. Canadian farmers certainly don’t want to grow less. While always looking for a higher selling point— that’s just smart business—it needs to grow or raise its crops or animals in the most cost-effective way possible while still trying to increase yield and making sure it is still a key supplier of global food products. So. No pressure or anything. Just hurry up and figure it out. According to Government of Canada data, the country’s total GHG emissions in 2021 were 670 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2 eq). It is a 1.8 percent increase from 659 Mt CO2 eq in 2020. Now, before everyone has a conniption, keep in mind that in 2020, Canada, along with most of the world, shut down its economic sector because of the global pandemic that was COVID-19. As such, fewer greenhouse gases were ejected into the air worldwide. As such, it’s okay that Canada’s GHG emission numbers increased in 2021 over the previous year. The Government of Canada also acknowledged that between 2005 and 2021, our GHG emissions decreased by 8.4 percent (62 Mt CO2 eq). Canada had been playing its global stewardship role for years before the UN asked the rest of the world to do a better job. And still, despite the efforts of Canada, the federal government has figured out a way to be economically harder on the farmers who supply Canadians with their agricultural products. Back to Bill C-234. Put forth as a private member’s bill by Benn Lobb, MP for Huron-Bruce, Bill C-234 wanted to remove federal carbon tax costs from propane and natural gas used to heat or cool farm buildings like barns and to use the fuels to dry grain. And despite all the hoots, hollers, and cries of filibustering, Canadian senators narrowly voted to amend the bill, with the result being that it will most likely end up lost in the parliamentary Twilight Zone. Canadian farmers know that propane and natural gas have many uses on their farms and that the fossil fuels impact the environment, human health, and the economy. But all farmers wanted—if there was no acceptable optional fuel source available—was to be able to use propane and natural gas without feeling the burden of a federal carbon tax. It was to be an exemption for those lacking a viable and affordable alternative. How Green is my Battery? With the negative outcome of Bill C-234 meaning Canadian farmers will get dinged with an additional carbon tax cost, we can be sure that all those involved in the vote will fly around the country or travel by internal combustion engine vehicle without regard to the cost. But, even for those who smugly travel by BEV (battery electric vehicle), thinking they are saving the world’s environment, there’s an uglier truth behind the manufacture of a BEV battery. It involves rare earths, a mined set of 17 metals. According to Statistica—and these are just estimations—the worldwide reserves of rare earths amount to approximately 130 million metric tonnes. China has the most at an estimated 44 million metric tonnes, followed by Vietnam, Brazil, and Russia. Canada is a major contributor, with about 15.1 million metric tonnes of rare earth oxides. However, because it has the largest reserves, China has manipulated the market, causing the price of rare earths to plummet and causing other countries to reluctantly close up their mines as being unprofitable. We can be sure that as soon as enough countries shutter a few more mines, China will raise the price of rare earths. In China’s favour, it takes a while for mines to start up—new or recently shuttered—allowing them to reap the benefits of having high prices and more of the market open. Why do we care about rare earths? Rare earths are mined elements that play a prominent role in automation. Rare at the time, these rare earth elements were discovered in 1794—the first GHG UPDATE
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