Budget’s environmental technology commitments come with few details

pinion is split on why $2 billion set aside for climate change initiatives in the Budget comes with scant detail on how the money is to be spent. Other than the replenishment of two foundations established in previous Budgets, $1.7 billion has not been earmarked.

Some government officials contend various mechanisms were not completed in time for the Budget, prompting the Finance department to take the unusual step of setting aside funding. Others suggest that the time between the ratification of Kyoto and the Budget was insufficient to develop the appropriate programs or foundations.

Budget documents state that at least $200 million of the funding lumped under “other measures” will be “dedicated to further investments in longer-term climate change technologies”. But there is concern that once the House recesses in June and the current government winds down, the money may be lost through re-allocation.

Funding dedicated to specific uses includes $250 million in FY03-4 to re-capitalize Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). SDTC was started in 2001 with $100 million and has held two competitions. A third round of funding was announced in late January, necessitating additional capital. SDTC provides partial funding for private-sector led projects leading to the development, demonstration and commercial- ization of sustainable development technologies.

Also re-capitalized is the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) with $50 million in FY03-4. The CFCAS was created in the 2000 Budget with $60 million over six years and administered by the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. The new money will expand the Foundation’s research activities, with an added focus on northern research.

The CFCAS was founded to strengthen Canadian scientific capacity in the areas of climate change, extreme weather, air quality and environment prediction.

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