By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Canada’s new energy and natural resources minister championed the energy sector Friday, calling on governments and industry to work together to build the Pathways Alliance’s proposed carbon capture project.
Continue reading Minister says Canada needs ‘infrastructure that gets our energy to tidewater’ at Calgary meeting
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.”
Continue reading Are Oil and Gas emissions holding Canada back from reaching its climate goals?‘The oil sands are Canada’s winning lottery ticket’
By Deborah Jaremko, Originally Published on the Canadian Energy Centre
As Alberta’s oil sands sector reaches a major economic milestone, a new report shows that emissions growth continues to slow.
There is a clear “structural break” for the industry where production growth is beginning to rise faster than emissions growth, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights. While last year’s oil sands production was nine per cent higher than in 2019, total emissions rose by just three per cent.
Continue reading ‘Significant change’ in oil sands emissions growth while sector nears $1 trillion in spending
By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Competition Bureau is officially investigating an ad campaign that Greenpeace Canada argues is “false and misleading” because it suggests Canada’s six biggest oilsands companies are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping Canada achieve its climate targets.
The Pathways Alliance’s six members — Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil subsidiary Imperial, MEG Energy and Suncor — are responsible for 95 per cent of Canada’s oil sands production. A complaint filed in March by Greenpeace Canada took aim at the group’s “Let’s clear the air” marketing campaign, which presents its members as “making clear strides toward net zero” to help Canada “achieve a sustainable future.”
Continue reading Canada’s competition watchdog opens inquiry into Pathways Alliance ads over greenwashing allegations
By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Sky-high net earnings for Canada’s four biggest oil companies have renewed calls for a windfall tax that Ottawa shows no sign of adopting.
“The gas lobby is clearly very powerful and holds a lot of sway in Canada,” Environmental Defence’s programs director Keith Brooks told Canada’s National Observer, adding the industry is impeding effective climate action and creating deep inequality among Canadians.
Continue reading Canada’s largest oil and gas companies’ sky-high net earnings renew calls for windfall tax
