Energy, Climate, Communication,
and Collaboration make up the
elements of the EC3 Initiative.
Each element represents core
areas of opportunity in support of
a low-carbon economy for Canada
and across North America.
The EC3 Perspective
"We can only achieve success if we can
demonstrate economic opportunities in our
pursuit of environmental and social solutions.
"Green" as we know it must become integrated with economics."
ANDREW BOWERBANK
EC3 INITIATIVE
Executive Membership
Explore what leaders across sectors are
doing in response to the emerging green
economy.
Prepare for changes in the marketplace
that might affect your long term strategies.
Participate in the development of new
technologies, programs and ideas.
Present your products and services to
local, national and global market leaders.
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The Green Economy
As economies around the world hit the reset button and societies recalibrate their value systems, we have an unprecedented opportunity to effect positive, enduring change at both the local and global scale. Through the process of cross-sector systems thinking, industry leaders have been engaged to transcend short-term targets and barriers, and offer their insight in support of Canada's evolving economy.
Recent global issues have demonstrated that a shift in the marketplace is upon us. I have been witnessing this market shift towards concepts that support the European based notions of “low-carbon economics” and US based notions of “clean-energy economics” for the past few years. These terms among others relate to “green” initiatives that can provide economic opportunities. They also speak to the importance of collaboration around a common cause and they do so in a way that can still support regional values.
The only way we will be able to achieve success is if we can demonstrate economic opportunities in our pursuit of environmental and social solutions. “Green” as we know it must move beyond a means for brand recognition and become integrated with economics. Product developers will need to evaluate their strategies over the coming years so that manufacturing processes automatically adopt practices designed to reduce or eliminate carbon intensity and waste. In order to achieve this, manufacturers will need confidence that there are economic opportunities associated with the required changes. Perhaps most important, consumers need to see value in the market shift and feel confident with their purchasing power.
- Andrew Bowerbank Speaking in Toronto at the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Workshop, March 2010.
Through my international networks, I have witnessed how leaders across Europe, Asia Pacific, USA and South America are addressing concerns such as peak oil, decentralized energy, carbon emissions, natural resource depletion, over population and more. As a member representative to the United Nations Environmental Programme (2007-9), I have also witnessed the difficulties in achieving international consensus on issues as complex as climate change.
Among the multitude of issues before us, I have noticed that there are three key elements global leaders feel we are failing to address:
1. The need for a common voice in the marketplace and a centralized location to get the right information that can build confidence and support the decision making process.
2. The need for a more aggressive strategy designed to improve market awareness and support the adoption of new technologies.
3. The need for stronger collaboration across industry sectors in response to key issues of our day. Leaders need to find new ways to grow markets, sustain resources and support community development.
I hosted a Market Leaders Workshop on August 23rd 2009 to explore opportunities in low-carbon economics, clean energy technologies, the application of systems protocols in support of collaboration among others. Senior executives from over 45 leading corporations as well as local and federal government officials turned out to review potential strategies for the Canadian marketplace. The turnout to this workshop and the contributions made on that day supported my confidence and drive to develop a new strategy for integrated market development that led to the formation of the “EC3 Initiative”.
Andrew Bowerbank, President and Chief Strategy Officer, EC3 Initiative