The changing face of our very environment is at the hands of every human interaction: leisure, work, transactions, etc. To combat the negative effects of climate change, more often than not, we turn to our leaders to inspire policy action, guidance, and ultimately the ability to make the necessary changes.

The political landscape of North America is changing at every turn. In recent years, we have seen significant change in power and national values: Harper -> Trudeau, Obama -> Trump. These are drastic shifts not only in leadership, but also in political platforms and preferences on federal spending. Media has intensely covered Trump’s selection of his of cabinet secretaries, notably Scot Pruitt, an active climate change denier, as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is a shift from Obama’s EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, who held a long tenure in the organization and was referred to as ‘the President’s serious push’ to address climate change. There is an opposing shift within our own country, where Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed his Minister of Environment, Catherine McKenna, who is steamrolling Canada in the direction of cleaner forms of fuel and energy, replacing Harper’s Leona Aglukkaq who on numerous occasions was absent from international climate change discussions; notably The Climate Summit of the Americas in 2015. Seems to be evident that as Canada takes a step in one direction, the US may be heading in the other. What are the possible implications of the future of the environment and relations with the US?

When referring to the article, Creating Shared Value, Porter and Kramer address the directed role that governments play in regulating ways to enable shared value, not resisting against it. There is a correlation to the possible development of clusters and communities to enhance the triple bottom line of sustainability (social, environmental, financial). Nevertheless, there are barriers to scale that are only conquered in collaboration with governments and within the society. If our elected governments and policy officials refuse to establish the necessary programs within these communities, there are potential threats that can prohibit inclusive business.

Successful strategies that strive for shared value with progressive relationships with government have expanded economic opportunities and preserved integral environmental concerns.

With the power, and arguably duty, that governments have in respect to environmental protection and good business, the implications of the next 4 years of governance could influence our next ‘X’ on the ballot.