Heavy industry accounts for close to half of Canada's total greenhouse gas pollution, so any credible climate change plan for Canada has to start by making sure industry does its fair share to cut greenhouse gas pollution.

That thinking was the basis for Pembina's Fair Share, Green Share proposal, presented to a House of Commons committee in February. The proposal looked at the feasibility and costs of having heavy industry sectors meet "Kyoto level" targets for reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
Photo: Dave Mussell, The Pembina Institute

The Alberta government's new climate change regulations will allow greenhouse gas emissions to continue increasing and shift an unfair burden to taxpayers. Provincial emissions will rise to 72% above 1990 levels if recent economic growth rates continue since the government's approach is based on "intensity" targets rather than an absolute limit on greenhouse gas emissions.

A Provincial/Federal Joint Panel Review recently approved a new oil sands project that is expected to emit even more greenhouse gas pollution than existing approved projects.

This rubber-stamping of another massive oil sands project demonstrates the Panel has failed to uphold its responsibility to act in the best interests of Albertans and Canadians, according to the Pembina Institute.
Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute

The newly appointed Alberta royalty and tax review panel will have the task of reviewing Alberta's current oil sands, oil and gas royalties regime. Outcomes from this review will determine Albertans' ability to invest in their future, using revenues from their oil sands, oil and gas resources. The Pembina Institute's Blueprint for Conducting Sound Royalty Reform in Alberta outlines a review process that includes Albertans—the owners of these resources.

Starting in April the panel will host public meetings in Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie to collect input from Albertans and other stakeholders. Find out more by clicking on the links below and then take the opportunity to share your concerns when the panel comes to your town.
Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute

Canadians understand the importance of taking action on climate change and support the development of renewable and sustainable forms of energy. And we want to know how to act on climate change. Simple actions really do make a difference, especially when you pass them on!

Here's one small, simple example: If one million Canadians changed one incandescent bulb in their home to compact fluorescent we would save 48 million watts of electricity. If our politicians implemented the talked-about Strategic Lighting Initiative to phase out incandescent light bulbs, in five years, Canadians could save millions of watts of electricity. Our savings could shut down entire coal-fired power plants—and cut the associated climate change pollution associated with producing electricity from coal.
Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute

In February, the BC government announced it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Among the announcements is a requirement that any coal fired power generation project in British Columbia require carbon sequestration to capture greenhouse gases. The actual plans for the province to meet its target are yet to be unveiled, but this welcome news is a good first step and likely means proposed coal-fired generating stations will not proceed. Short term actions will be the key for meaningful implementation. Time will tell if the details add up.
Photo: Dave Mussell, The Pembina Institute

The federal government of Canada has forwarded a Notice of Intent to develop a regulation requiring renewable fuels content in Canada. Replacing petroleum fuels with renewable fuels can bring significant reductions in air contaminants and greenhouse gas emissions but in order for regulations to provide benefit to the environment, and to Canada, they must be done well. The Pembina Institute has provided recommendations to Environment Canada on what doing well means.
Photo: Dave Mussell, The Pembina Institute

A collaborative effort of ecological organizations including WWF-Canada, Greenpeace Canada, the Pembina Institute, the Ontario Clean Air Alliance and the Sierra Club of Eastern Canada have just launched an educational initiative is designed to inform concerned Ontarians about climate change and climate-friendly energy solutions for Ontario. The site provides tools to enable individuals to influence policies and platforms in advance of an election to reflect climate change concerns.

Environmental groups are calling on the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas pipeline to consider the impacts of petro-industrialization of the Northwest Territories. New maps indicate that the pipelines are bound for the oil sands. Using the cleanest fossil fuel to make the dirtiest and most carbon intensive is like using gold to make lead.

Environmentalists had good reason to celebrate on February 14, as Members of Parliament pledged that day to respect Canada's Kyoto targets through the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act (C-288). This private member's bill, sponsored by Montreal MP Pablo Rodriguez, won unanimous support from all three opposition parties in its final House of Commons vote, passing with 161 votes in favour and 113 against.

If it becomes law, C-288 would compel the government to produce and implement a plan to meet Canada's Kyoto target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Kyoto is already a binding commitment under international law; C-288 would make that obligation part of Canadian law as well. The bill will now be studied by the Senate as a final step to becoming law.
Photo: Dave Mussell, The Pembina Institute

The Alberta Energy Utility Board (EUB) recently released draft plans for safety in the petroleum production industry. Although there are some positive changes in the new directive, Pembina and the landowner group PAPA are very concerned that the EUB has not adequately addressed some major shortcomings that affect the health and safety of Alberta.

Blueprint for Conducting Sound Royalty Reform in Alberta sets the bar for reviewing and reforming Alberta's oil sands, oil and natural gas royalties. It describes the Pembina Institute's vision of how such a review should be conducted in a way that is for Albertans and by Albertans.

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This 7-page submission was made by Matthew Bramley to the legislative committee studying the Clean Air Act. It provides a blueprint for regulating heavy industry and launching the transformation needed for Canada to meet the demands of the Green Economy of the 21st century.

Download the submission

The Pembina Institute presented in front of the Standing Committee on Finance to press for an end to the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance.

Download the submission

Please visit our publications database to download our other recent formal submissions to government on topics like amendments to the Clean Air Act, renewable fuels regulations and more.

«Intensité des émissions». Auriez-vous, par hasard, entendu cette expression récemment? Si vous vous préoccupez des changements climatiques, la réponse doit certainement être oui.

Mark Winfield points out that that nuclear power is not an "emission-free" energy source as greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, and a host of other air pollutants are produced at each stage of the nuclear energy cycle.

Mark Winfield and Dan Woynillowicz argue that given the overwhelming economic, environmental and security risks associated with nuclear power, and the availability of better options, nuclear makes no sense as an energy source for Alberta's oil sands.

Le rapport du Groupe intergouvernemental d'experts sur l'évolution du climat (GIEC), dévoilé vendredi à Paris, confirme une fois de plus la gravité des changements climatiques.