Chris is the Alberta regional director at the Pembina Institute. He worked with the Institute from 1996 to 2016, then spent three years at the Alberta Energy Regulator before returning in 2020. He is a leading expert on responsible energy development, with specific expertise in oil and gas, oilsands and electricity.

Chris holds a B.Sc. in environmental and conservation science from the University of Alberta and a Master of Arts in environment and management from Royal Roads University.

Contact Chris Severson-Baker

work: 403-269-3344

Chris Severson-Baker's Recent Publications

Alberta’s carbon pricing not best-in-Canada example

Blog

Dec. 19, 2014 - By Chris Severson-Baker

Prime Minister Stephen Harper cited Alberta's version of carbon pricing as a model that could be applied at a national scale. Our analysis has found that an Alberta-style model could work at the national level — but it wouldn’t be ideal.

Four ways Alberta could turn its climate record around Lima to Paris: Part 3

Oped

Dec. 12, 2014 - By Chris Severson-Baker

The wrap-up of UN climate talks in Lima, Peru, comes at a significant time for Alberta. Canada is not on track to hit its 2020 climate target, and the growth in Alberta’s carbon pollution is a significant barrier. But Alberta’s new climate strategy is expected by the end of the year, and the province has several big opportunities to turn things around.

CNRL admits design failure could have caused Primrose bitumen leaks

Blog

July 8, 2014 - By Chris Severson-Baker

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL) has come as close as it likely ever will to admitting that the design of the Primrose Cyclic Steam Stimulation project has failed, and that this failure led to the four bitumen and steam emulsion blowouts that were discovered several kilometres apart just over one year ago.

Another chapter unfolds in CNRL’s oilsands bitumen blowout in Cold Lake, Alberta

Blog

Oct. 9, 2013 - By Chris Severson-Baker

In a drastic move to contain an on-going and unstoppable bitumen blowout in Cold Lake, Alberta, the province’s department of environment has ordered Canadian Natural Resource Ltd. to drain two thirds of a 53-hectare lake. According to CNRL, some of the removed water will be stored in the remaining one third of the lake, with the rest piped to a nearby pit and wetland.

What’s really happening at the CNRL blowout site?

Blog

Aug. 7, 2013 - By Chris Severson-Baker

Executives at Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) said little about an ongoing blowout at an underground oilsands extraction site until late last week, when the company confirmed that bitumen emulsion — a mixture of oilsands and water — is still escaping from the Clearwater formation.