The CARE Coalition

The CARE Coalition is an ongoing initiative, jointly spearheaded by Suncor Energy and The Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development, which has enjoyed the support of nearly 20 companies and NGOs including Friends of the Earth, Shell Canada, TransAlta, the Toronto Environmental Alliance and the International Institute for Sustainable Development)

It's raison d'etre is to champion short-term tax reforms which will bridge the gap until Canada introduces a domestic greenhouse gas emissions-trading programme, expected in 2004. The Coalition has lobbied the federal government to adopt two tax measures which would promote the development of renewable energy technologies including wind, solar and geothermal.

• A consumer tax credit to encourage uptake of "green power" and,

• A producer tax credit which would off-set more of the costs of investment in new renewable energy projects.

Suncor and Pembina set out to convene a coalition of like-minded NGOs and companies, describing the initiative as an 'environmental policy coalition' - one which could demonstrate a collective commitment and define common ground.

Mark Rudolph is an environmental consultant who guided the coalition-building process. In common with many NGO-business collaborations, Rudolph says that personal relations have been the driving force. To hear him rattle off the various connections - friendships, directorships, former employment relationships - between the key personnel involved, you might feel that the Coalition is more of a high-school reunion than an alliance of industry and public-interest groups.

According to Rudolph, it is these relationships which helped to cement the coalition. Because most of the players were known to one another - and trusted one another - they were comfortable about dentifying their common ground and lobbying together, without fear of hidden agendas or ill-intentions.

Rudolph is hopeful that at least some of the Coalition's proposals will make their way into the Government's financial blueprints. He is enthusiastic about the process of coalition-building between NGOs and business. 'It's been an exciting and fun experience,' he says.

• Current NGO members: Friends of the Earth, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Pollution Probe, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
• Current business members: BC Hydro, Toronto Hydro, Axor, BP Canada, Suncor, Shell, Benign Energy Company Canada, Dofasco, Enbridge, Ontario Power Generation, TransAlta, WestCoast Energy

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