Published In
Journal of Environmental Law
Document Type
Working Paper
Publication Date
2021
Subjects
Climate Disruption, Canadian Constitutional Law, Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act
Abstract
This analysis considers the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in References re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, 2021 SCC 11, in which a majority of the Court upheld as constitutional national carbon pricing legislation. The decision presents an excellent illustration of the legally disruptive nature of climate change. Illustrating that nothing is static in a climate disrupted world—including constitutional law—this article identifies three shifts the Court makes in relation to climate disruption. First, the decision represents a shift away from climate denialism toward a judicial willingness to confront the environmental, social and legal implications of climate change for Canada. Second, the majority embraces and perhaps strengthens a “culture of justification” in climate decision-making. Third—and more tentatively—the majority moves beyond the erasure of Indigenous peoples from Canadian federalism but still yet fails to engage with Indigenous laws and jurisdiction as part of Canada’s constitutional response to climate change.
Citation Details
Jocelyn Stacey, "Climate Disruption in Canadian Constitutional Law: References re Greenhouse Gas Pollution" (2021) 33:3 J Envtl L 711.
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