Chris is the executive director of 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, most recently serving as senior director of the industrial decarbonization group before becoming executive director in 2022. 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 • email: chrissb@pembina.org
Chris Severson-Baker's Recent Publications
Getting on Track A primer on challenges to reducing carbon emissions in Canada’s oilsands
Canada's carbon-intensive oil and gas sector must significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and must also confront the prospect of a decline in demand for its product over the long term. Oilsands producers now rely on technologies to meet reduction targets that likely won’t be scalable and affordable until after 2030; however, the sector as a whole is better positioned than other parts of the economy to meet or exceed Canada’s 2030 emissions reduction targets.
Ottawa must mandate oilsands producers to align with its emissions plans
The federal government is due to launch an updated emissions reduction plan this month that will outline a strategy to meet Canada’s 2050 net-zero goal. Canada’s oilsands producers know they must dramatically reduce emissions as part of the country’s overall effort in the global battle against climate change. However, the industry efforts will only align with Canada’s 2030 emissions-reduction targets and 2050 net-zero goal if Ottawa mandates such a track.
Recommendations on principles to guide the implementation of an oil and gas cap Submission to the Net-Zero Advisory Body
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.
Pembina Institute calls for retaining and improving Emissions Reduction Fund Letter to Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources
During the pandemic, the Emissions Reduction Fund has been one of the few programs around the world that addresses the economic impacts of the ongoing health crisis while creating jobs and contributing meaningfully to reducing emissions in the oil and gas sector. Minister Wilkinson should renew this fund to address methane - a critical step in reducing Canada's overall oil and gas emissions.
Pembina Institute Response to the Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns (the Allan Inquiry) Pembina Institute direct reply to the invitation to respond
Pembina Institute welcomes the conclusion of the Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns that it has not acted in an improper manner or displayed conduct that should be in any way impugned. Given that your report is focused on our work over a 20-year period, and that over the past two years we received no invitations for meetings or requests for information about our work from the Inquiry, we find the other representations to be unreasonable, largely misinterpreting our work.
