CALGARY — Sara Hastings-Simon, Clean Economy Program Director at the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the University of Calgary announcement:
The Pembina Institute congratulates the University of Calgary on receiving a $75 million Canada First Research Excellence Fund grant. This seven-year funding program for the university’s Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources project will go a long way to helping the university apply its researchers’ expertise to create an environmentally and economically stronger province.
With a cap on emissions from the oilsands and commitment to reinvesting the carbon levy into new technologies that will diversify the economy, Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan shows that the province is committed to taking action on climate change.
“The technologies needed to reduce the environmental impact of the oilsands and create the industries of the future will come from targeted research like this,” said Sara Hastings-Simon, Clean Economy Program Director at the Pembina Institute. “This financial commitment and intent demonstrated by the federal government and the University of Calgary recognizes the important position of Alberta as a leader in developing the industrial technologies of the future.”
In this time of low oil prices, increasing unemployment and looming global carbon constraints, Alberta has an imperative to build upon our strong base of skills and expertise in unconventional hydrocarbon resource development and mega-project execution to solve the world’s energy challenges.
The Pembina Institute applauds research focused on tackling the near-term environmental and competitive challenges of the oil and gas industry, as well as developing technologies, materials and approaches that will remain relevant in the low-carbon future. It would be a failure if this centre becomes an excuse for business-as-usual research in oil and gas, rather than the nucleus for innovations that Alberta can sell to the world.
We are working to solve today’s greatest energy challenges — reducing the harmful impacts of fossil fuels while supporting the transition to an energy system that is clean, safe and sustains a high quality of life. The Pembina Institute provides expertise to industry and government leaders, and we advocate for a strong, science-based approach to policy, regulation, environmental protection and energy development.
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Contact
Suzy Thompson
Communications Lead, Alberta, Pembina Institute
587-585-4522