Calgary and Ottawa - The Pembina Institute appreciates Alberta Environment Minister Boutilier's recognition that regulation is the only credible way to limit rapidly increasing industrial emissions of greenhouse gases. But regulations will only secure meaningful emission cuts if they establish tough targets while eliminating loopholes that could allow targets to be met without real action.
"Minister Boutilier has added his voice to the broad Canadian consensus that the 50 per cent of our emissions that come from heavy industry must be limited by regulation. But the devil is in the details - regulations could deliver next to nothing if they are poorly designed," said Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director of the Pembina Institute.
A recent Pembina Institute poll found that 86 per cent of Albertans believe that oilsands operations should be required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Leading companies have also recognized that greenhouse gases must be regulated," added Dr Raynolds. "Those in industry who still appear to be questioning this are damaging their corporate reputations and credibility."
Minister Boutilier's desire to regulate industrial greenhouse gas emissions contrasts sharply with the new federal government's position. "The Harper government's failure to make a clear statement of intent to regulate industrial greenhouse gas emissions is further confirmation of its abandonment of Canada's Kyoto Protocol obligations," said Matthew Bramley, Director, Climate Change at the Pembina Institute.
"Any regulations proposed by the Alberta or federal governments must set targets for industry that put Canada clearly on a path to deep reductions and zero-emission oilsands," added Dr Bramley.
Analysis published by the Pembina Institute shows that Canada's greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced to 25% below the 1990 level by 2020, in order to place the country on a path to the deep emission reductions needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. The Institute is also making the case that oilsands producers have the financial and technical capacity to become "carbon neutral" by reducing their net emissions to zero by 2020.
For more information contact:
Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director, 403-607-9427
Matthew Bramley, Director, Climate Change, 819-210-6115
