Since Alberta introduced its Emissions Reduction and Energy Development plan in April 2023, the provincial government has made SA国际影视传媒渘o meaningful progressSA国际影视传媒� in the development and implementation of the plan, according to an analysis released Friday by the Pembina Institute.
The assessment report found that in the last year, the government of Alberta had not begun preliminary stakeholder consultations, which it described as a SA国际影视传媒渒ey first action in identifying how it will practically reduce emissions across the economy.SA国际影视传媒� The province has also not delivered interim emissions targets for its ultimate goal of a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, or developed clear policies for short term emission reductions.
Report author, and director of Pembina InstituteSA国际影视传媒檚 oil and gas program, MC Bouchard, said failure to implement clear emissions strategies comes with serious economic and environmental risks.
SA国际影视传媒淚n 2024, decarbonization policy is economic policy. Alberta is placing its economy at risk as it falls further behind in having a clear plan to reduce emissions, especially across its heavy industries, and embrace diversification of the economy to the clean growth sectors of the future,SA国际影视传媒� Bouchard said.
AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 greenhouse gas emissions plan aspires to match other national and global commitments to attaining carbon-neutrality by 2050. The province has said it will achieve this by leveraging existing infrastructure, relying on emerging technologies, and attracting investment SA国际影视传媒渂y creating a regulatory and investment climate that is predictable, agile and certain.SA国际影视传媒�
Since 2005, all but two of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 provinces have made significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In that time, AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 9 per cent, and ManitobaSA国际影视传媒檚 have risen by 2 per cent, according to data from Environment and Climate Change Canada. New Brunswick led the country with a 39 per cent reduction since 2005 baseline emissions levels.
The report notes Alberta made some progress in decarbonizing the electricity sector, largely thanks to the phase out of coal in 2015, but SA国际影视传媒渨ithout prompt and decisive action to reduce emissions from AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 heavy industrial sectors (especially oil and gas production), the gains of the coal phase-out risk being undermined.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淐anada is taking steps to move towards a clean, modern economy, and Alberta is choosing not to get on board. Since 2005, AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 emissions have grown, while theySA国际影视传媒檝e fallen in almost every other province. This matters to Albertans, who have a right to expect their government to recognize the global shift towards low-carbon economies and energy resources, and make sure they donSA国际影视传媒檛 get left behind,SA国际影视传媒� said Simon Dyer, deputy executive director of the Pembina Institute.
CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 oil and gas sector is responsible for about 28 per cent of the countrySA国际影视传媒檚 GHG emissions, and accounts for more than half of emissions in Alberta. Research published last year in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that these emissions statistics are likely low, and that emissions from the oilsands are under reported by as much as 65 per cent, releasing an estimated 31 million tonnes more carbon dioxide than reported by industry programs.
Pembina Institute is calling on the government to take a sector-by-sector approach to emissions targets, strengthen existing regulations, lower oil sands emissions limits, and due more to tackle oil and gas methane emissions.
AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas did not say when stakeholder consultations are expected to begin.
SA国际影视传媒淎lbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 emissions are steadily in decline, even with increases in production. In recent months, Alberta has announced investments in small modular nuclear reactors, hydrogen, carbon capture, and many other emissions reducing technologies across all sectors. Each of these actions, are part of AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 plan to reduce emissions,SA国际影视传媒� Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, said in a statement on Friday.
SA国际影视传媒擝y Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, St. Albert Gazette
