In Canada and around the world, affordability, housing, climate, health, and economic and social instability are all pressing issues. We need solutions that bring us together and solve numerous problems at once. Electrification is the only overarching energy policy that simultaneously supports economic prosperity, creates jobs, provides affordable energy, improves health, reduces carbon emissions and bolsters national energy security.
Middle powers can strengthen their impact by building practical partnerships with one another that go beyond political influence, to enable economic cooperation that also addresses global climate imperatives. As auto nations, the burgeoning global EV market offer opportunities to combine complementary assets: from Canada’s secure and diversified supply of batteries, critical minerals and clean energy to Germany’s industrial capabilities, engineering base, standards expertise and position in the European market.
Our two countries have signed a joint declaration to expand bilateral industrial cooperation in the auto, battery manufacturing and critical minerals sectors. With clear implementation, the declaration could connect investment, supply chains, emissions standards, critical minerals, market access and clean energy. Electrification is the global decarbonization plan; Canada and Germany can look to one another for support.
To dive into what a Canadian-German partnership can look like, The Pembina Institute partnered with adelphi, a Germany-based independent think tank and public policy consultancy focusing on climate, environment and development.
