Documentation:Open Case Studies/Political Science/Industry3

Climate Change Action Plan

To alter the behaviours of both automotive manufacturers and consumers to sway the market towards more fuel-efficient or zero-emission vehicles.

Introduction

The goal is to alter the automotive sector, at the manufacturer level. Many large auto manufacturers are multinational, and impact the globe's climate by virtue of the preponderance of their products. In the United States, transportation, and the fossil fuels burned in association with transportation, accounted for about 27% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 (https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions). Furthermore, at least a third of an average vehicle's fuel consumption is lost to friction and heat production within the vehicle, and serves no purpose in actually propelling the vehicle (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112095853.htm). The goal of this case study is two-pronged, with the first prong being to devise a system through which auto manufacturers would be granted incentives to improve the fuel economy of their products, either by improving the mechanical design of their internal combustion engine vehicles, or by designing revolutionary fuel sources and implementing them in their designs. The second prong would be conducted through tax incentives meant to deter the production and purchase of fuel-inefficient vehicles, in favour of more efficient designs.

Action Plan

(Erase this text: here explain what your action plan is, how it will be implemented, its guiding principles, and how it will be enforced and/or achieve buy-in from appropriate stakeholders. Consider the guiding questions.)

Implications

(Erase this text: In this section, consider how your action plan can be framed to address the concerns of political, economic, and social groups. Your answers in these sections should consider the guiding questions on the student handout page. Why could you anticipate your plan as having a chance of success in gaining appropriate support? What will be its impacts? Consider both negative and positive impacts.)

Political

Political implications regarding incentives for the Automobile Industry would be played out at the Federal and Provincial levels in Canada. At the Federal level, businesses go through Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Transport Canada, and The Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV), paying a number of tariffs to each. This includes Imported Vehicle Fees, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and duties under NAFTA. At the provincial level, businesses must pay Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). If such tariffs are changed in order incentivize the construction and sale of fuel-efficient vehicles, cooperation will be needed between Federal and Provincial branches. (add) research (add) global implications: can Canada pressure allies/set an example?

Economic

Economic impact of tax decrease on import of fuel-efficient cars:
Economic impact of research grants:

Social

Social implications Though this may not seem like a win-win situation for all groups, in the long run increasing fuel efficiency in the auto industry. The short term social implications there will be positive impact on consumers and citizens. By incentivizing fuel efficient cars, the auto industry can cut back on the burning of fossil fuels which cause air pollutions by releasing pollutants like sulfur dixoide, nitrogen oxides, soot, and carbon monoxide. Further advanced technologies such as plug-in hybrids and pure electrics have further decreased pollutants to the extreme.

By switching to fuel efficient cars, consumers have the ability to save money. Fuel efficient cars are less bound to the rise and fall of gas prices. A fuel efficient vehicle that gets 30 MPG will cost you $625 less to fuel each year than one that gets less fuel efficient vehicle 20 MPG. Over a period of 5 years, the fuel efficient 30-MPG vehicle will save you $3,125.

Fuel efficient cars are also key to reducing the dependency on foreign oil costs. -- Oil Imports costs http://c-7npsfqifvt34x24x78qnfejbx2ecvtjofttx2egjobodjbmqptux2edpn.g00.financialpost.com/g00/3_c-7cvtjoftt.gjobodjbmqptu.dpn_/c-7NPSFQIFVT34x24iuuqx3ax2fx2fx78qnfejb.cvtjoftt.gjobodjbmqptu.dpnx2f3128x2f13x2fgq1333_pjm_jnqpsut3.qohx3fx78x3d442x26j21d.nbsl.jnbhf.uzqf_$/$/$/$ ---

Remaining Challenges

(Erase this text: What are some remaining challenges to your action plan? What does it fail to address? How can you mitigate shortcomings?)