Pembina Institute's Climate Change News

Clean energy also needs political focus (op-ed)

Tim Weis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Canada is quietly emerging as a renewable energy leader, but it will take the same political focus currently being put toward oilsands to ensure we retain and grow the jobs that are being created in the country's emerging clean energy sector.

Pembina reacts to the release of British Columbia’s Natural Gas Strategy (media release)

Matt Horne — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Matt Horne, director of the Pembina Institute’s climate change program, made the following statement in response to the release of British Columbia’s Natural Gas Strategy.

Helping Calgary meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets (blog)

Jesse Row — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:35:42 +0000

Recently, Calgary City Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting its first citywide greenhouse gas plan. The plan aims to reduce the city’s emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, and 80 per cent by 2050, below 2005 levels and I’m thrilled to say that the Pembina Institute’s community services consulting group helped to write it.

Carbon pricing and Canada’s New West Partnership: An $8 billion opportunity (blog)

Matt Horne — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:28:30 +0000

The premiers of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan have pledged to meet with the federal government to discuss a national energy strategy and the related issue of regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Before that meeting happens, let’s examine their efforts to price carbon, a critical component of any cost-effective approach to dealing with climate change.

U.S. decision on Keystone XL pipeline took climate consequences into account (blog)

Jennifer Grant — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:34:36 +0000

The Obama administration’s surprise decision to deny the proposed Keystone XL pipeline created quite the media storm yesterday, and for good reason.

In defending the decision, the president highlighted the risks the project could pose to “the health and safety of the American people and [to] the environment,” and the need to adequately review those concerns. And while a wide range of responses surfaced from the Republicans, Democrats, public opinion leaders and local interest groups, one story in particular caught our eye.

The truth about our funding (blog)

Ed Whittingham — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:01:20 +0000

An open letter from the Pembina Institute to Canadians

Dear friends,

As you may have noticed, the Harper government and the “Ethical Oil Inc” front group have been working to discredit groups like the Pembina Institute and our work on energy issues by claiming that we are a “foreign-funded,” “radical” organization advocating against the best interests of Canadians.

Allow us to set the record straight.

A provincial approach to regulating coal doesn’t mean the Feds are off the hook (blog)

P.J. Partington — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:31:22 +0000

The federal government has repeatedly touted its forthcoming regulations for coal-fired electricity as proof that it’s serious about climate change. It was therefore concerning to see reports from the Globe and Mail last week that suggest the government might “backtrack” on their coal regulations even before the final version has seen the light of day.

Business Leaders Urge B.C. to “Stay the Course” on Climate Leadership (media release)

David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute, Tides Canada — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

In an open letter released today, 85 British Columbia business leaders call on the provincial government to reaffirm and strengthen its leadership on climate change.

Climate Leadership Ensures a Better Future (publication)

David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute, Tides Canada — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Recently, the International Energy Agency warned that we have fewer than five years left to act if we are to avoid irreversible climate change. We, the undersigned, believe our government has both an obligation and an opportunity to reduce our carbon emissions.

New report finds Alberta must strengthen emissions rules to meet climate commitments (media release)

Simon Dyer, Marc Huot, David Dodge — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

In the most comprehensive assessment of Alberta’s climate change policies to date, a new report by the Pembina Institute concludes that Alberta’s current approach will deliver less than one third of the greenhouse gas reductions the Government of Alberta has committed to, but strengthening current policies could enable the province to meet its climate targets.

Responsible Action? An assessment of Alberta’s greenhouse gas policies provides a detailed evaluation of current regulations and financial incentives to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and identifies key opportunities for the Government of Alberta to strengthen its approach to climate change.

Responsible Action? (publication)

Matthew Bramley, Simon Dyer, Marc Huot, Matt Horne — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

This report provides a detailed evaluation of Alberta's current regulations and financial incentives to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and identifies key opportunities for the Government of Alberta to strengthen its approach to climate change.

Pembina reacts to finalization of Quebec’s cap-and-trade regulations (media release)

Matt Horne — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Matt Horne, director of the Pembina Institute’s climate change program, made the following statement in response to the Quebec government finalizing their greenhouse gas cap-and-trade regulations.

Canada’s Kyoto math doesn’t add up (blog)

Matt Horne — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:53:13 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, my colleagues and I were trying to make sense of the outcomes from the Durban, South Africa, climate change conference. Was it an exercise in deceit or did it offer some glimmer of hope? Before we could fully answer those questions, news broke that Canada was formally withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol. Just hours off the plane from Durban, Environment Minister Kent made the announcement that Canada would no longer be a party to the world’s only climate change treaty.

Attacks on environmental group supporters are disingenuous and disturbing (blog)

Ed Whittingham — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:41:37 +0000

Yesterday the reputation of the Pembina Institute and that of the British government was attacked in a column by Kathryn Marshall, a professional oilsands booster. It doesn’t seem too much to ask of someone who regularly writes commentary in the news media to do a little fact checking. However, this basic journalistic standard appears to have escaped Marshall, as her commentary repeats many misleading or downright false statements about the Pembina Institute and the nature of our work.

Pembina reacts to conclusion of Durban climate change conference (media release)

Matt Horne, P.J. Partington — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

The Pembina Institute responds to the conclusion of the UN climate change conference in Durban, South Africa.

Canada’s performance and positions in Durban (blog)

P.J. Partington — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:42:22 +0000

The second and final week of the UN climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa is now underway. In our view, a wealthy country such as Canada that is serious about reaching an agreement, would be doing three things. Let's take a look at where Canada stands on these points.

Evaluation of the Government of Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Policies (publication)

P.J. Partington, Matthew Bramley — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

This evaluation was prepared by the Pembina Institute as input to the Climate Change Performance Index 2012. The index, published by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe, ranks countries' performance in controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Full information on the index, including countries' rankings, is available here.

Looking to Canada’s economic past for wisdom on climate change (op-ed)

Matt Horne — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

New report highlights dangers associated with tar sands pipeline to British Columbia (media release)

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

A new report highlights the dangers associated with transporting tar sands oil by Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway project, both along the pipeline pathway and on B.C.'s sensitive coast, which massive oil tankers would be navigating for the first time. The report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Pembina Institute and Living Oceans Society has also been endorsed by nine British Columbia organizations.

Pipeline and tanker trouble (publication)

Living Oceans Society, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Nathan Lemphers — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

This report highlights the environmental risks associated with the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, which would carry more than half a million barrels of raw oilsands crude oil (known as bitumen) daily across important salmon-bearing rivers, coastal rainforests, and sensitive marine waters in British Columbia.