Environmental Defence

Alberta needs to improve its oil and gas methane regulations significantly before they go to the federal government for approval. The current regulations will fail to meet Canada’s methane reduction targets of 40 to 45 per cent by 2025.  Read more about Alberta’s regulations fail to effectively address major sources of emissions

Edmonton, Alta. – With its ruling today, the Supreme Court of Canada has rightfully put the health of our environment ahead of banks. Companies cannot shed their environmental liabilities in order to pay banks back first. This ruling is a win for all Canadians, as there are massive outstanding environmental liabilities in many sectors, not just oil and gas. Read more about Statement on the Supreme Court of Canada Ruling on the Alberta Orphan Well Association Appeal

CALGARY, AB – Based on new comprehensive modelling, Alberta’s methane regulations will allow oil and gas companies to release far greater volumes of harmful methane pollution than if they followed the federal methane regulations enacted earlier this year by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).   In Alberta, the ECCC rules would reduce methane pollution in 2025 by almost 35 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) while the Alberta rules released today will reduce only 22 million tonnes of CO2e.  This equals a reduction of 36%, clearly failing to achieve Alberta’s own 45% methane reduction commitment, squandering one of the highest-value, lowest-cost opportunities to deliver significant progress towards Alberta’s and Canada’s climate goals.  Regrettably, recent research shows Alberta’s proposed carbon pricing regime offers no rescue for this missed opportunity because the carbon price does not cover, nor apply to the majority of methane emissions. Read more about Alberta’s methane regulations will fail to meet provincial reduction target