Break In Case of Emergency Emergency Marker 1: Spend what it takes to win (w/ Caroline Brouillette & Seth Klein)
Dec 3, 2025
Seth Klein, Director of the Climate Emergency Unit and author of 'A Good War,' and Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, dive into transformative climate investments. They argue for a WWII-style mobilization to commit at least 2% of GDP annually. The duo highlights the urgency of ending fossil fuel subsidies and discusses public versus private funding for climate infrastructure. With a focus on economic benefits, they emphasize the importance of strategic public investments and the moral case for divesting from fossil fuels.
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Emergency Spending Breaks Austerity
- Emergency spending breaks austerity mindsets and enables rapid mobilization like WWII and COVID responses.
- Canada currently spends about 0.7% of GDP on climate versus multi-fold higher emergency spending in past crises.
Commit To 2% Of GDP For Climate
- Aim to spend at least 2% of GDP annually on climate mitigation, which equates to roughly $287 billion over five years for Canada.
- Prioritize public transit, Indigenous-led projects, worker supports, and electric infrastructure investments.
Tax Credits Can't Replace Public Build
- Tax credits alone won't deliver big public infrastructure because private partners may not step up.
- Many climate projects require direct public investment rather than relying on private finance.