Publication

This paper contemplates the potential impact the fossil fuel divestment movement could have on Canada’s oil, coal, and natural gas industries. Interestingly enough, the movement is now being primarily motivated by economic concerns which include 1) worries about a future ‘carbon bubble’ and/or a declining demand for coal; 2) the poor performance of Canadian oil sands operations; and 3) uncertainties about natural gas consumption in the longer term. In light of these possibilities, the text’s author argues that the Canadian government must ensure that the financial risks posed to the fossil fuel industries are accounted for in the investment and lending decisions of major public pensions and banks.