A Good War feat. Seth Klein

Seth Klein, a writer and public policy researcher, joins Dr.
Keefer to discuss his book, A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the
Climate Emergency.


Klein draws on the history of Canada during World War II, when
the country massively industrialized to help Britain with the war
effort in what he describes as a "true society-wide
mobilization." He uses this history to argue for a similar
society-wide, wartime-like mobilization to fight climate change.


Klein makes a bold argument: We have tried and fail for 30 years
to "incentivize our way to victory," and we will lose the climate
battle if we think strategic subsidies, incentives, and taxes
alone will lead to decarbonization. Rather, we need the state to
take charge and institute rapid, mandatory measures.


During crises, Klein argues, populations actually respond
positively to mandatory measures. For example, in World War II
the backlash feared from rationing and other mandatory measures
rarely manifested. We have seen a similar phenomenon during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Despite some dissent, there has been wide
support for social distancing and mask requirements. On climate
change, Klein argues that people "in the main" are ahead of the
political curve and demanding strong climate action.


In this episode, Dr. Keefer and Seth Klein discuss the nuances of
this argument, including the important question of the
technological choices made during a hypothetical wartime-like
mobilization, and how we can avoid making progress in the wrong
direction.


Seth Klein recently launched the Climate Emergency Unit following
over two decades of experience at the Canadian Centre for Policy
Alternatives and in various other policy roles focused on poverty
reduction, social, and environmental justice.


Learn more about the Climate Emergency Unit:
https://www.climateemergencyunit.ca/