The Competition and Green Growth Summit
September 20, 2022
Canada and other countries across the world are taking significant actions to move towards a greener economy. Environmental and sustainability measures such as carbon taxes, net-zero targets and Environmental, Social, and Governance factors are impacting business competitiveness more and more. Consumers are also changing their buying habits because of their growing environmental consciousness.
To examine the interaction between competition law and policy and sustainability, the Competition Bureau is hosting the Competition and Green Growth Summit. This will be an opportunity for the Bureau to inform its enforcement and advocacy as well as to spark a conversation in Canada.
The Summit is a full day event that will feature two panels and an enforcers roundtable on September 20, 2022.
Expert panelists will discuss:
- the role of competition to achieve the government’s greener growth goals and enhance Canada’s global competitiveness;
- the role of competition enforcement in the transition to a greener economy; and
- the practical aspects of environmental considerations in competition enforcement.
On this page
Registration
The summit is open to all virtually and limited to 100 guests in-person by invitation only.
To register, please fill out this online form.
Agenda
- 9:00 a.m. EDT: Arrival of in-person participants at the National Arts Center
- 9:30 a.m. EDT: Welcoming remarks
- 10:30 a.m. EDT: Coffee break
10:45 a.m. EDT: Panel 1- A green future: competition policy and competitiveness
Panel details : Climate change is driving governments and businesses around the world to set ambitious environmental targets.
The kickoff panel will open the discussion by providing context on the transition to a greener economy. It will also explore the role of competition to achieve the government’s greener growth and sustainability goals and enhance Canada’s global competitiveness.
Some of the key questions this panel will cover include:
- How do current competition frameworks support the achievement of greener growth and sustainability goals?
- To what extent can competition policy complement the Canadian government's environmental policies and climate targets?
- What are the sectors where competition authorities could best advocate for competition in order to support greener growth and future competitiveness?
- How will the Canadian economy likely evolve over the next 5 years as the green transition takes shape?
- 12:25 p.m. EDT: Lunch
1:30 p.m. EDT: Panel 2- Enforcers roundtable: Perspective from competition agencies
Panel details: Senior officials from international competition agencies will discuss the practical aspects of environmental considerations in competition enforcement.
Some of the key questions this panel will cover include:
- How are competition authorities taking sustainability considerations into account within the existing legal framework? To what extent are adjustments needed?
- What are some of the practical challenges faced by competition authorities?
- What is the future of sustainable competition law and policy?
- 3:00 p.m. EDT: Coffee Break
3:15 p.m. EDT: Panel 3- Competition enforcement in a greener economy
Panel details: Market dynamics are changing. Consumers and investors are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious in their choices, and businesses are adapting to this shift. This panel will discuss the role of competition enforcement in the transition to a greener economy, including business collaborations and enforcement against greenwashing.
Some of the key questions this panel will cover include:
- What are the key markets where emerging innovative greener tech has the potential to disrupt incumbents?
- In what circumstances are environmental considerations relevant to the assessment of merger or monopolistic practices cases?
- What can we learn from enforcement cases that have been considering environmental effects?
- How do consumer environmental preferences factor into the analysis under competition laws? How can competition enforcement protect consumers from misleading environmental claims and build confidence in the greener economy?
- How can businesses collaborate to meet sustainability standards without breaking competition rules?
- 4:50 p.m. EDT: Closing remarks
- Date modified: