The First Movers Coalition, an initiative seeking to decarbonize heavy-emitting sectors including aviation, shipping, and trucking, aims to use the purchasing power of businesses around the world to drive decarbonization for industries on a global scale. The federal government has been urging Canadian businesses to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) initiative.
François-Philippe Champagne, the Industry Minister, stated in a document tabled in Parliament that as a partner of the FMC, the government is wedded to encouraging Canadian businesses to join the coalition while positioning themselves for success in a sustainable economy.
The initiative was launched by U.S. President Joe Biden and is a partnership between the WEF and the U.S. Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. There are currently over 90 global corporations as members of the coalition. Business members are expected to sign off agreements to purchase new, clean technologies to drive global decarbonization initiatives.
The Industry department reported engagement with Canadian businesses, but as of the time of the report, the members did not appear on the coalition’s website.
The Canadian government has not entered into any contracts or agreements related to its FMC membership or FMC-related commitments. The government stated that no expenditures or costs were recorded or anticipated for the near future. Regardless, federal records reveal nearly $23.5 million has been spent on WEF projects since November 2015. The government also participates in the WEF’s Agile Nations network, aiming to usher in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.