An Alberta court decision that permits the Energy Resource Conservation Board (ERCB) to ignore Royal Dutch Shell's breach of written agreements made to obtain regulatory approval signals a likely end to collaborative approaches in the oilsands. Ecojustice, on behalf of the Pembina Institute and the Toxics Watch Society of Alberta, was denied Leave to Appeal the ERCB’s decision to uphold the approvals for two of Shell oilsands projects, even though the ERCB acknowledged Shell had broken written agreements to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
Backgrounder: Oilsands Review Process Broken
Related Publications
Options to cap and cut oil and gas sector greenhouse gas emissions Submission to Environment and Climate Change Canada
Publication
Sept. 29, 2022-
By Janetta McKenzie, Scott MacDougall, Jan Gorski, Eyab Al-Aini
This submission outlines the Pembina Institute’s comments and recommendations to the Government of Canada on its two proposed options to cap oil and gas emissions. Oil and gas production remains Canada’s largest source of emissions, and unlike some other industrial sectors, its emissions have continued to grow in recent years — by 19% between 2005 and 2019. To do its fair share, Canada’s oil and gas sector must also reduce its emissions by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030.
Recommendations on principles to guide the implementation of an oil and gas cap Submission to the Net-Zero Advisory Body
Publication
Jan. 7, 2022-
By Chris Severson-Baker, Isabelle Turcotte, Simon Dyer
The Government of Canada has committed to setting a cap on emissions generated by the oil and gas sector at a pace and scale needed to achieve net-zero by 2050. In this submission, the Pembina Institute provides key principles for setting the oil and gas cap, setting 2025 and 2030 targets, and developing the regulatory pathway to ensure these targets are met or exceeded.
Meeting the emissions cap A feasible pathway for the oil and gas sector
Publication
March 21, 2024-
By Janetta McKenzie, Matt Dreis
Our analysts show how voluntary commitments already made by oilsands companies—like the Pathways Alliance plan to reduce emissions by 22 Mt per year by 2030— in addition to federal and provincial targets to reduce oil and gas methane by 75%, along with electrification, carbon, capture, storage and utilization (CCUS) and several other measures can move Canada toward the emissions cap target in the required timeline.