Alberta oil and gas industry, environmental groups watching COP26 climate talks
An Alberta-based clean-energy suppose tank says there must be a partnership between the federal and provincial governments to make progress on decreasing greenhouse fuel emissions.
The COP26 United Nations Local weather Change Convention, which begins Sunday in Scotland, will see world leaders and authorities officers collect for 12 days of talks. What occurs there might have implications for Alberta’s oil and fuel sector.
Alberta’s greenhouse fuel emissions are the very best within the nation, according to federal data.
“In some ways, we’re ready for the federal government of Alberta to meet up with the place the general public, business and different ranges of presidency are already appearing,” mentioned Simon Dyer, deputy government director on the Pembina Institute.
Dyer, who might be attending the local weather summit, predicts Canada will stay unable to considerably scale back emissions with out addressing oil and fuel and transportation emissions.
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Dyer mentioned Canada can’t succeed with out progress in Alberta.
“Sadly, Alberta appears to be isolating itself from this dialog. We haven’t even made a dedication to net-zero emissions by 2050. Alberta is type of on the surface wanting in and that’s harmful to our industries, in fact, that are going to be competing on this low carbon future,” Dyer mentioned.
Neither Premier Jason Kenney nor any of his cupboard ministers are going to the local weather summit.
“We’re not travelling except it’s completely important,” mentioned Kenney on Oct. 25. “I believe only one extra politician flying to a gabfest in Glasgow is just not going to make any significant distinction.”
Kenney not too long ago met with representatives from the 5 oilsands producers which have fashioned an alliance to achieve net-zero targets by 2050.
“That’s going to take large funding in game-changing know-how. Alberta might be there to assist help that,” Kenney mentioned.
Oilsands giants Suncor Power, Cenovus Power, Canadian Pure, MEG Power and Imperial launched the Oilsands Pathways to Net Zero initiative earlier this yr.
“Web-zero by 2050 is an unimaginable purpose. It’s doable. It’s solely doable if we actually collaborate, however I’m assured that we will do this,” mentioned Suncor Power’s chief sustainability officer Martha Corridor Findlay.
Suncor Power is sending a consultant to Glasgow.
Corridor Findlay mentioned assembly business targets would require substantial funding from governments, however she predicts the payoff will imply jobs and cleaner power.
“Our sector ought to then be globally most popular when it comes to supply, so if we obtain that, then we get to maintain the business alive,” Corridor Findlay mentioned.
“From a transition perspective, I’m really actually enthusiastic about what this could imply when it comes to jobs, when it comes to well-paying jobs, when it comes to jobs that individuals will really feel happy with having.”
Alberta has targets for reducing methane emissions and plans to remove coal-fired electrical energy in 2023 however doesn’t have an total emissions purpose in place.
Kenney mentioned Alberta might be releasing an up to date local weather technique later this yr.
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