New climate plan aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has been released by Canada’s main oil-producing province Alberta on Wednesday, albeit it did not announce any interim targets in a move that puts it at odds with the federal government’s strategy.
Alberta is Canada’s highest-polluting province and the centre of the fossil fuel industry where Prime Minister Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government wants to see major reductions as parts of efforts to see a 40-45% cut in emissions by 2030.
Alberta Environment Minister Sonya Savage said the province would not impose unrealistic interim goals as it continues to work on sector-specific emissions reduction targets, and singled out Ottawa’s 2030 goal of a 42% cut in oil and gas emissions.
“That’s a random target attached to a random date. Before we regulate or impose limits on specific industries and interim targets there’s more work to be done. We have to see what’s achievable,” Savage was quoted as saying at a news conference in Calgary.
The release of the climate plan comes ahead of a provincial election on May 29.
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Carbon capture and storage, clean electricity, tougher methane regulations and strengthening the province’s industrial carbon pricing system are the key areas the plan is focused on.
Savage said the province is also exploring lowering its 100 megatonne cap on oil sands emissions. The federal government plans to introduce a cap on oil and gas emissions, which Alberta has opposed on the grounds it would amount to a cap on production.
The climate plan has been welcomed by climate policy think-tank, Clean Prosperity who said clear milestones are needed to show how Alberta will reach net-zero by 2050.
“Otherwise this plan risks being an aspirational document rather than a roadmap to a low-carbon future,” said Adam Sweet, Clean Prosperity’s Western Director.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
