Pembina Institute's Climate Change News

Pembina reacts to British Columbia's rejection of the Northern Gateway Pipeline (media release)

Nathan Lemphers, Kevin Sauvé — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Nathan Lemphers, senior policy analyst with the Pembina Institute, made the following comments in response to British Columbia’s final written argument to the Northern Gateway Panel.

Moving oilsands to market — by pipeline or rail? (blog)

Nathan Lemphers — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:31:37 +0000

Earlier this week, five CP Rail tank cars jumped the tracks just outside of Jansen, Saskatchewan, spilling more than 91,000 litres of crude oil. Last month, a similar derailment near White River, Ontario, resulted in a 63,000-litre oil spill.

While these trains were not carrying bitumen from the oilsands, it’s becoming increasingly common to move oilsands by rail, particularly as public opposition to various new pipeline proposals continues to grow and oilsands producers seek other shipping options.

Harper's recipe for Keystone XL success lacks key ingredients (op-ed)

Clare Demerse — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Clare Demerse, federal policy director at the Pembina Institute, explains why Canada's reluctance to take leadership on climate policy makes Keystone XL a tough sell.

Scientists offer much-needed reality check on climate implications of Ottawa’s resource agenda (blog)

P.J. Partington — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:00:07 +0000

As other countries face up to the climate challenge and begin curbing their demand for fossil fuels, will Canada be left waiting on the shore for tankers that will never come?

Will climate be a winner in British Columbia’s election? (blog)

Josha MacNab — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

It’s down to the wire now. The B.C. election is less than a week away. Wondering how the climate will fare? Well, that depends on outcome of the election and, based on our platform assessment there could be significant progress, or significant backsliding.

Clear distinction on climate between B.C. party platforms (media release)

Matt Horne, Kevin Sauvé — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

An assessment of climate change issues in political platforms reveals clear distinctions between British Columbia’s four major parties. The assessment looks at the following four election issues with implications for climate change and the province’s ability to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets: liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil pipelines, the carbon tax and green jobs.

Climate change and the 2013 British Columbia election (publication)

Matt Horne, Josha MacNab, Kevin Sauvé — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

One more time, with feeling: why we’re not halfway there yet on climate (blog)

Clare Demerse — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:43:35 +0000

It seems that barely a week goes by without a federal cabinet minister saying we’re “halfway” to meeting our 2020 greenhouse gas target. So here’s the explanation of why the government says we’re halfway, what the line really means, and what Jon Bon Jovi has to do with Canada’s emission projections.

Pembina reacts to BC NDP leader Adrian Dix’s opposition to Kinder Morgan’s proposal to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline (media release)

Matt Horne — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Matt Horne, climate change program director at the Pembina Institute, made the following comments in response to BC NDP leader Adrian Dix’s opposition to Kinder Morgan’s proposal to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline.

Strengthening Alberta’s greenhouse gas regulations (publication)

Simon Dyer — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Alberta’s Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) is due for renewal in 2014, and the Government of Alberta is currently considering revisions to the regulation. A stronger SGER would help Alberta reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance social license to operate for sectors, such as the oilsands, that face continued scrutiny of environmental performance.

This briefing note outlines the Pembina Institute's perspective on how Alberta needs to strengthen its greenhouse gas regulations.

Tales from the National Inventory: a look at Canada’s latest greenhouse gas emissions report (blog)

P.J. Partington — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:06:22 +0000

Each spring, as the tulips are starting to bloom in Ottawa, Environment Canada releases its annual compendium of greenhouse gas emissions data. Here are three stories that emerged from our first look at the report.

Edmonton’s Energy Transition (publication)

Pembina Institute, HB Lanarc — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Research and recommendations for an energy transition plan for the City of Edmonton.

What Minister Oliver didn’t read (blog)

P.J. Partington — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:00:53 +0000

Canada’s Natural Resources minister, Joe Oliver, recently shared his views on climate change and energy with La Presse. The Minister is quoted that he did not read the climate change section of the IEA report or their warning about locking into a path to dangerous climate change. To hopefully inform his next briefing, I’ve summarized the two scenarios below.

Pembina reacts to B.C. New Democrat Party’s promise to broaden carbon tax (media release)

Matt Horne — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Matt Horne, climate change program director at the Pembina Institute, made the following comments in response to the British Columbia NDP’s promise to broaden the provincial carbon tax, if elected.

How carbon pricing currently works in Alberta (blog)

P.J. Partington — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:47:30 +0000

In Alberta’s current carbon pricing system, called the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER), major industrial facilities must reduce their “emissions intensity” (i.e. emissions per unit of production) by up to 12 per cent, relative to their typical performance or “baseline” level. The target phases in over time, reaching the full 12 per cent requirement in a facility’s ninth year of operation, and remains at 12 per cent after that.

What you need to know about Alberta’s 40/40 carbon pricing proposal (blog)

Simon Dyer — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:24:20 +0000

News broke this week that Alberta is considering strengthening greenhouse gas regulations on the province’s energy industry. The so-called “40/40” plan proposed by the Environment Minister Diana McQueen would increase Alberta’s intensity-based emissions target and its carbon price. The very mention of such a move has kicked off a long-overdue conversation about what it’s going to take to curtail greenhouse gas pollution and develop Alberta’s resources responsibly.

Pembina reacts to Premier Clark’s promise to freeze B.C.’s carbon tax (media release)

Matt Horne — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Matt Horne, climate change program director at the Pembina Institute, made the following comments in response to Premier Christy Clark’s promise to freeze the province’s carbon tax for five years if elected.

Strong oil and gas regulations can get Canada on track to 2020 target (op-ed)

Clare Demerse — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

In a new report released today, the Pembina Institute laid out a set of recommendations for effective regulation on the oil and gas sector’s greenhouse gas pollution.

New report outlines criteria for effective greenhouse gas regulations on Canada’s oil and gas sector (media release)

Clare Demerse, Kevin Sauvé — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

New recommendations released today by the Pembina Institute set the bar for forthcoming federal greenhouse gas regulations by showing what’s needed from the oil and gas sector to get Canada on track to hit its national climate target.

Un nouveau rapport définit les critères pour l’élaboration d’une réglementation efficace sur les GES dans le secteur du pétrole et du gaz au Canada (media release)

Clare Demerse, Kevin Sauvé — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Le gouvernement fédéral a annoncé qu’il publierait avant l’été la réglementation destinée à limiter les émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) dans le cadre du processus de production et de traitement du pétrole et du gaz au Canada.