Crossroads in Alberta: Climate Capitalism or Ecological Democracy

Abstract

In this article I outline two divergent visions of a post-carbon future which I label 'climate capitalism' and 'ecological democracy.' These models are necessarily simplified and incomplete, serving as rough ideal types that can help us make sense of policy choices with regard to climate change as decisions laying the foundations of our future societal development. Decisions taken now direct us along one path, often making other directions more obscure, inaccessible, or unthinkable.

Canadian Fossil Capitalism, Corporate Strategy, and Post‐Carbon Futures

“…While carbon‐capital is actively suppressing a rapid process of decarbonization, the sectors’ strategic attempts at self‐preservation are potentially supported by a longer term strategy of participating in a slow and “managed transition” to more climatically benign sources of energy. As suggested in existing literature, the fossil fuel sector, certain organizations, or key individuals within it may support a drawn‐out transition to “climate capitalism,” as a project that gradually transforms the energetic basis of capitalism toward hydropower, solar, wind, tidal, wave, and nuclear, while leaving its class structure untouched (Adkin ; Derber ; Lohmann ; Muller ; Sapinski , ). The research here focuses on the Canadian context, asking: in what ways is the fossil fuel sector in Canada shaping and controlling the development of renewable energy and conversely, how has the development of renewables shaped the fossil fuel industry itself ?…”

“…Solar and wind investments fell again in 2016 by 46 percent, leaving Canada out of the top 10 largest renewable investing nations (Frankfurt School‐UNEP Centre ) . Reflecting on the overall growth of green energy, recent work has cited the carbon extractive sector's prominent role as both producer and investor (Adkin ; Bakx ; Smith ; Wedding ). Considering only their Canada‐based assets, Clean Energy Canada () finds both Enbridge and Suncor to be among the five largest corporate renewable electricity operators and developers in Canada for 2015.…”

“…I focus first on capitalism's deep dependency on fossil fuels; second, the ensuing political transformations that reinforce an oil dependent economy; and third, the organization and power of carbon‐capital. While capitalism remains decisively carboniferous, recent studies in this field consider how the climate crisis has provoked emergent and competing visions or models of development, based in different class fractions and interests (Adkin ; Candeias ; Muller ; Sapinski , ). They point to the diverging political economic projects of “climate capitalism,” based on monopoly ownership and control of renewable energy technologies by large energy firms on the one hand, and “energy democracy” founded on decentralized and democratic control of such technologies on the other hand (Adkin ; Muller ).…”

“…Due to advances in renewable energy development, numerous studies suggest that it is feasible by 2050 to have an economy that is entirely powered by renewable sources (Greenpeace 2015;Jacobson and Delucchi 2011;Schwartzman and Schwartzman 2013). and interests (Adkin 2017;Candeias 2013;Muller 2013;Sapinski 2015Sapinski , 2016. They point to the diverging political economic projects of "climate capitalism," based on monopoly ownership and control of renewable energy technologies by large energy firms on the one hand, and "energy democracy" founded on decentralized and democratic control of such technologies on the other hand (Adkin 2017;Muller 2013).…”

Foundations, ENGOs, Clean-Growth Networks and the Integral State

“…They propose market-based measures, such as carbon taxing or cap-and-trade, or technological improvements like carbon capture and storage, to reduce GHG emissions and move Canada towards post-carbon energy transition (Lee 2020). Clean growth, also known as "green growth" by its supporters (Dale et al 2016) or "climate capitalism" by its critics (Adkin 2017;Sapinski 2016;Graham 2019), "seeks to redirect investments from fossil energy to renewable energy generation so as to foster an ecological modernization of production and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions" (Sapinski 2015: 268).…”