In its early stages, the GEN steering committee decided to focus attention on three priority areas for federal government policy making in the building of a green economy. The first has to do with “public transit and intra-city high speed rail”. The second concerns stimulating “public investments in renewable energy sources”. The third, focuses on a “building retrofit and energy conservation program”.

The initial objective was to begin developing a common platform for education and action with this three-pronged policy agenda serving as foundation stones. The task was to develop some basic research on these three issues, put together a policy agenda, and design campaigns to promote these priorities. In order to move forward with these tasks, working groups were formed around these three fronts.

All three working groups are currently mandated to come up with [a] a set of federal policy asks; [b] specific job creation targets; [c] measurable carbon reduction targets; and [d] social equity priorities to be addressed. Based on what the three working groups produce, a common platform will be put together for the Green Economy Network to promote and advance. In order to communicate and demonstrate the importance of this green economy agenda, the GEN plans to illustrate the real impacts on communities and the lives of people in diverse sectors of some 25 cities across Canada.

Once a common platform is developed, it is anticipated that the member groups of the GEN will organize education and action campaigns to mobilize public support for this policy platform. Where possible, these campaigns will be designed and organized to link with relevant local campaigns taking place in communities and regions across the country.