Tag Archives: Alberta emissions

Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Majority of Albertans don’t want taxpayer dollars used for pipeline; say province’s economy too dependent on oil and gas

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Despite the latest spike in oil prices and months-long push by oil and gas industry for the stripping back of environmental regulations, Albertans are concerned about overreliance on single sector.

By Janetta McKenzie , News release from the Pembina Institute

CALGARY — A majority (61 per cent) of Albertans say they do not want taxpayer money to be used for a new pipeline, with even more (67 per cent) saying they think the province’s economy is too dependent on the oil and gas sector. 

New polling commissioned by the Pembina Institute and conducted by Probe Research in late April and early May suggest Albertans’ views on energy policies are not aligned with priorities being brought forward by the Government of Alberta and oil and gas industry leaders. These have included a broad push for environmental deregulation, as well as a proposal for a new oil pipeline that has so far been funded exclusively with Alberta taxpayer dollars, and has still yet to attract a private sector proponent.

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Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Jennifer Lash on Mark Carney, the MOU and Canada’s low carbon future

There have been a lot of concerns that the MOU with Alberta represents a step backward when it comes to reducing climate-change-causing emissions from big industry and advancing clean energy. In this morning’s interview, Jennifer Lash, who was both a senior adviser at Environment and Climate Change Canada and a Liberal candidate in the last election, shares her perspective on these issues.

Shortly after the radio version of this story first aired, Carrie Saxefrage from the Cortes Island Climate Action Network emailed, “Ten years ago, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney gave a speech in which he said the world must turn risk into opportunity by building new markets in climate transition and green finance. Last week, Prime Minister Carney just backed down before the oil industry bullies who are pushing our shared Earth further toward mass extinction. The new Mark Carney may survive to fight another day, but how much of our money will he have thrown away, or locked into climate destruction? What and who will be left to save? “

“Canada needs the Mark Carney of ten years ago, the leader who is eager to use his political capital to persuade Canada that our taxes and regulations must, with deliberate speed, transition our nation toward stability and away from fossil fuels.”  

May Thaysen added, “The Cortes climate action network is here to build a home base for the people power we need to stop the pollution that is threatening our lives and livelihoods – that includes political pressure on the Prime Minister to force him to do the right things.  Reach out at [email protected].”

Jennifer Lash explained, “I went through a bit of an existential crisis when the MOU was announced. That was a hard moment for me. I’ve spent many years arguing against pipelines and arguing for carbon pricing, but I had to step out of the old way I was looking at climate. I had to step into a new way of looking at it, one that took more into consideration the current global crisis we’re in and the political situation.”

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Energy, Politics

Pembina Institute releases four must-have results from Ottawa-Alberta MOU talks

By Chris Severson-Baker, Press release from the Pembina Institute

CALGARY — The Pembina Institute is releasing a list of four specific outcomes that need to emerge from the ongoing talks between Alberta and the federal government that began with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November.

“This list is meant to help Canadians judge whether the agreements reached between Ottawa, Alberta, and industry are a fair deal for climate competitiveness,” said Chris Severson-Baker, executive director of the Pembina Institute. 

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Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Are Oil and Gas emissions holding Canada back from reaching its climate goals?

On March 21, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a press release stating that in 2023 Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped to their lowest level in 27 years (excluding the pandemic years). The exception in this otherwise positive picture was the oil and gas sector, where emissions continue to rise. However there is good news within that sector as well, ‘fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from oil and natural gas have decreased by 33% between 2013–2023, driven in part by Canada’s 2020 oil and gas methane regulations, which have reduced methane venting and leaks.’  

“The two main messages from the National Inventory report last week, which I feel are really important, is that climate policy works. Over the last 10 years, Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions have gone down. Our methane emissions have gone down. Our electricity has become less emissions intensive, and all of that has happened while our economy has grown. This is a significant point to make. And this is something that environmental groups, activists, researchers, community leaders, all of them have been saying for decades,” responded Aly Hyder Ali, from Environmental Defence. 

“The other aspect of the report was that the oil and gas industry is holding us back. The oil and gas industry has failed to do its part when it comes to emissions reductions and if it was able to or willing to do that, Canadians would be in a much better place.”

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Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Carrie Saxifrage’s Climate Mitigation Presentation To The SRD Board

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Cortes Island author Carrie Saxifrage made a climate mitigation presentation at the May 22 SRD Board meeting. This is an abridged version of that talk. 

She began with a simple admission, “This is my first time. Thank you so much for having me. If I were to do it again, I’d do it a little differently, but here we are. We’re going to whisk through some slides, and I’m going to emphasize what I think is most important.”

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