‘It’s incredibly dire here’: Alberta MPs navigating COVID-19 and oil crises
“I’m not really one to panic,” said Alberta MP Stephanie Kusie, speaking over the phone from her home, after closing her constituency office in Calgary Midnapore as the COVID-19 virus spreads across Canada. “I believe in preparation, but I don’t believe in panicking.” Still, the former Canadian diplomat-turned Conservative MP says she is taking a “day […]
Canada is at a crossroads with existential consequences
It is not hyperbole to suggest that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government find themselves today at a truly historic junction—and Canada’s economic and political future are very much dependent on which policy direction he chooses to pursue. There is no middle ground. He either takes the direction suggested by Greta Thunberg, the 17-year-old […]
Policymakers should worry less about energy self-sufficiency and more about decarbonization
Suppose that Canada were energy self-sufficient. Would life improve for the average Canadian? In times of instability, self-sufficiency seems like a balm to soothe jangled nerves and wary politicians. But more careful investigation demonstrates that energy self-sufficiency is a red herring. Policymakers should be much more worried about climate change and how to decarbonize the […]
Improving the policy environment in Canada to capitalize on the global energy transformation
Energy use is the main source of rising greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere, which is linked to climate change’s widespread disruptive effects. Transforming the energy system—i.e., all the ways we produce, process, transport, and use energy—lies at the centre of a global transition to a sustainable future. As a trade-dependent and energy exporting […]
The race to net-zero: grounded in reality or wishful thinking?
Just a few months ago, Spanish oil company Repsol made a splash in global headlines by announcing that it would get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This announcement triggered a cascade of similar pledges from other oil and gas giants in Canada and around the world, including CNRL, MEG Energy, Teck Resources, Cenovus, and […]
Time to move away from business-as-usual approach to climate, resource development policies
In recent weeks, Canadians have heard a lot about the debate around fossil fuel developments and the need for climate action. The oil and gas sector has suffered under low commodity prices for the past six years, and thousands of workers in the sector have lost their jobs. On the other hand, the general public […]
Low carbon resilience is Canada’s safe green path in a changing climate
As providers of traditional and new energy resources and residents of a large country with complex energy and infrastructure needs, Canadians face unique pressure to plan strategically for the coming decades as we work to reduce emissions in a changing climate. Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world and will […]
Canada needs to lead an international effort to reduce fossil fuel production
Teck’s cancellation of its $20-billion Frontier project in February clearly exposed Canada’s contradictory position as a climate champion and major fossil fuel exporter. Having regained its credibility with the Paris Agreement, it is still seeking to grow its fossil fuel industry. Between now and 2040, the National Energy Board expects to see oil production grow […]
Don’t oversimplify conversations about how we power our lives
Canada is gripped by debates about energy. Loud voices are trying to prescribe or condemn a societal energy transition based on selected facts and examples. Unfortunately, many of the conversations are incomplete. The economic importance of oil and gas—“hydrocarbon energy”—has often been pitted against the vital environmental necessity of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Both points […]
Resolving the oilsands conundrum
An answer to the conundrum of oil sands development lies right beneath the feet. By turning the innovative capacity of Alberta’s oil and gas sector on its head—extraction of heat from the ground rather than carbon—geothermal energy is a cost-effective option ready for advancement on a large scale. It is an abundant resource, widely available […]
