Pivot Strategic specializes in environmental solutions across a wide range of sectors
SPECIES AT RISK ROUNDTABLE
Issue:
The federal government was poised to overhaul the Species At Risk Act in a reactionary manner. It was widely perceived that the result would have been a weaker act that would have also created significant roadblocks for industry, which needed social license and participation of environmental, indigenous and community constituencies.
How we addressed the issue:
Over a period of eight months, we convened a monthly roundtable with six national industry associations and three environmental organizations to develop a series of joint recommendations to reform the implementation of SARA in a manner that would simultaneously strengthen the Act and ease the compliance burden.
Impact:
The federal government held off on the legislative and regulatory changes, avoiding a major public fight with the environmental sector. The recommendations helped guide internal deliberations about how to implement the Act, benefiting industries seeking greater certainty when proceeding with development applications.
LOW CARBON FUELS
Issue:
Pivot Strategic represented a heavy industry association that had been trying for seven years to convince a provincial government to amend its environmental regulations to enable the use of less polluting fuels. The industry had a heavy reliance on carbon-intensive fuels such as coal, and wanted to substitute lower-carbon fuels, including non-recyclable waste.
How we addressed the issue:
We worked closely with both the provincial government and environmental organizations to develop an approach to the issue that helped address concerns expressed by government officials and external stakeholders. Additionally, we helped ensure that the new approach would be a “good news story” for the government, industry and environmental groups.
Impact:
A new regulation now allows industry to substitute low-carbon fuels, without compromising the environmental integrity or community engagement objectives of the regulatory process. Industry can reduce its environmental footprint while saving money and maintaining competitiveness with other jurisdictions.
METHANE REGULATION
Issue:
Pivot Strategic represented a large environmental organization with an interest in reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, responsible for about one quarter of human-caused global warming. The organization had published a study demonstrating that a 45% reduction in methane could be implemented on a very cost-effective basis with current technology, and was seeking a national regulated target.
How we addressed the issue:
By achieving and leveraging wins at the provincial level, starting in Alberta with the province’s Climate Plan, and working closely with partners in Canada and the United States, we helped the client achieve a North America-wide regulated target of 40-45% methane reduction by 2025.
Impact:
Once implemented, the target will be one of the largest GHG reduction initiatives in North America. It is a major component of provincial and federal climate reduction plans.
BIOFUELS
Issue:
We were approached by a biodiesel fuel distributor hoping to expand markets for this low-carbon fuel. Biodiesel reduces GHGs by more than 90% over regular diesel, and has half the carbon intensity than renewable diesel. However, greener diesel mandates fail to fully account for this.
How we addressed the issue:
Pivot Strategic worked closely with the Ontario government to achieve funding to fuel distributors for “high-blend sustainable biofuels” in the province’s Climate Change Action Plan.
Impact:
By effectively reducing the price gap between biodiesel and regular diesel, this new measure will be effective at convincing companies and governments to switch their fleets over to the cleaner-burning fuel. For existing biodiesel users (including some major retailers and municipal governments), the measure will be an effective incentive to increase the percentage blend they use. The result will be a significant reduction of GHGs (over 1 megatonne if existing provincial capacity is maximized) as well as criteria air contaminants.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Issue:
In the lead-up to the 2015 federal election and the subsequent transition to a new government, two national policy think tanks recognized that Cabinet would need to move quickly on climate change. Within two months of the election, the UN Climate Conference would take place in Paris, and the new government would need to demonstrate that Canada was serious about its commitment to climate change.
How we addressed the issue:
Pivot Strategic quickly pulled together and coordinated a team of leading Canadian thought leaders, combined with a technical consultant. This team produced a report that included seven concrete policy proposals that the federal government could adopt early in its mandate to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Impact:
Released one week after the election, the report helped set the stage on climate change with the new government. It received significant national media attention, and many of the ideas in the report were incorporated into programs under the Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
OTHER COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Pivot Strategic Consulting has a long history of facilitating partnerships between industry and non-governmental organizations. Our President, Aaron Freeman, was the first coordinator of the Green Budget Coalition, which brings together more than a dozen major environmental groups to provide coordinated policy input and response to the federal budget process. He has facilitated many other collaborations, including the Endangered Species Campaign, which mobilized environmental, industry, Indigenous and labour organizations in a successful effort to pass the federal Species At Risk Act. In 2017, Aaron worked closely with the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, Environmental Defence and EcoJustice to facilitate a joint set of policy recommendations to strengthen the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This collaboration resulted in a Government commitment to strengthen the Act.