Tools and strategies to help Manitoban’s prosper as we transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy
The world is moving towards a low-carbon economy and Manitoba is well positioned to take advantage of the transition. Taking action to address climate change now will save Manitoba money and create new opportunities for jobs and growth.
Manitoba can prosper through climate change by being smart, focused and resilient in our investments and attitude. Specifically, we can prosper through climate change by:
Supporting innovation and cleantech
Manitoba is already home to a vibrant community of innovation. In 2014, 2016 and again in 2018 Winnipeg was named one of the ‘Top 7 Intelligent Communities’ in the world by the Intelligent Community Forum. This award recognizes Manitoba’s use of innovation and technology to strengthen the business environment and quality of life for Manitobans.
While Manitoba’s environmental and cleantech sector is strong, the global market is much bigger and is projected to continue growing. To take advantage of this opportunity our Made-in-Manitoba Plan proposes:
- Investing in cleantech research and development.
- Reducing market, regulatory, and administrative obstacles to investing in and growing a low-carbon economy.
- Focusing on areas of private and public sector advantage, known as opportunity clusters, where we are most likely to succeed.
Eliminating barriers that hold back financing and investment
A key obstacle to cleantech growth and innovation is access to financing by small and medium-sized enterprises. To unlock private sector investment in this area the Manitoba government can:
- Use targeted financial tools that stimulate investment and strategic government spending.
- Increase enrolment in, by raising awareness of, business support programs available to the environmental industries sector.
- Promote our province’s clean energy advantage to industry.
Providing education and training to help people succeed in the low-carbon economy
The low-carbon economy will require an evolving set of new skills and knowledge. To prepare Manitobans for these opportunities our Climate and Green Plan proposes:
- Aligning the Manitoba government youth job opportunities programs with a focus on sustainability.
- Enhancing co-op and experiential learning opportunities that can help Manitoban’s gain meaningful employment experience relevant for the low-carbon future.
- Working with the private sector to develop a new Labour Market Strategy and Clean Growth Talent Plan, incorporating a focus on climate and sustainability jobs and skills.
- Developing infrastructure and adaptation training programs to ensure the impacts of a changing climate are integrated into the full lifecycle of infrastructure, including design, planning and management.
Building Green Infrastructure
Nature itself can be used to provide important services for communities, protecting them against flooding or excessive heat, or helping to improve air, soil and water quality. Out Made-in-Manitoba Plan proposes:
- Working with the federal and municipal governments to ensure sustained funding, dedicated to green infrastructure project priorities.
- Harnessing nature’s defenses and methods for preserving and regenerating its natural state.
- Assessing the current level of resiliency of our public infrastructure assets to climate change.
