Technology and capitalism in Nova Scotia's new Climate Change Plan

The failure of global and regional climate policies to effectively mitigate the climate crisis stems largely from their refusal to challenge the political economy of capitalism. This study examines Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth, a new policy document released in December 2022, to situate it in relation to this global policy paradigm. To do so, it systematically analyzes each mitigation-related policy action in the Plan to uncover relevant political and economic trends in the Plan’s proposed climate solutions. The study qualitatively measures two key characteristics of each action: firstly, to what extent the intended reduction in greenhouse gas emissions comes from replacing current technology with “cleaner” options or from creating cultural changes in the collective provision of needs; and, secondly, to what extent the action leverages individual market incentives or direct collective action to mobilize climate change mitigation. The rankings of each action on these two spectrums are placed on a conceptual compass chart for clear visualization of the results. The analysis finds that most actions are technologically-driven rather than culturally-driven, while they range evenly from highly individual to highly collective. The Plan’s reliance on technology and economic growth indicates that it follows a predominantly liberal-capitalist ideological framework, in line with global trends. Based on these findings, the study concludes that Nova Scotia’s overall approach to mitigating climate change is disingenuous, irresponsible, and morally self-contradictory. Lastly, the potential for a more radical climate politics in Nova Scotia is discussed.