The oilsands rush is exceeding the ability of the environment and society to absorb the impacts. As lead author of the Pembina Institute's report Troubled Waters, Troubling Trends, Dr. Mary Griffiths represented Pembina in the first of a series of province-wide public input sessions on oilsands development. Griffiths highlighted some of the issues relating to the use of fresh water for oilsands extraction.
Water Use in the Oil SandsPresentation to the Oilsands Multi-stakeholder Committee
Related Publications
Directing Decarbonization Examining regulatory barriers to a cleaner grid
Canada's unique electricity system means there is no overarching federal body that oversees utility regulation. Provinces and territories manage their own systems. Report outlines regulatory challenges for grid decarbonization and provides case studies for making change.
Design recommendations for a national oil and gas emissions cap Pembina Institute comments and recommendations on the Regulatory Framework for an Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap
The Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap, as proposed, represents a realistic and reasonable pathway to meaningful emissions reductions in the oil and gas sector this decade. The Pembina Institute generally supports the level and scope of the proposed cap; it is a crucial step forward in bending the curve on emissions in Canada’s highest-emitting sector. We also recommend that the regulatory development timeline for this emissions cap be accelerated where possible.
Survival of the Cleanest Assessing the cost and carbon competitiveness of Canada’s oil
The Pembina Institute looked at 36 major producing oilfields in Canada, representing about 62% of all Canadian production, 92% of Alberta’s production, and all offshore production. Most Canadian projects are well above global averages on both price and carbon.