Reports & Publications

Without federal action, Canada will miss easiest, cheapest opportunity to reduce climate emissions

New analysis shows oil and gas methane regulations will create a gap of up to seven million tonnes

(OTTAWA) Unless the federal government revises its methane regulations to take into account new analysis, Canada will miss by a wide mark an international commitment made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reduce oil and gas methane emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2012 levels by 2025. Read More

New report on the intersection of the Polluter Pays Principle and insolvency laws

At the Environmental Law Centre blog, Jason Unger writes about the "polluter pays principle" and its intersection with the economic challenges Alberta faces resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and low energy prices.

…it remains unclear how our society will uphold and promote the polluter pays principle, not only today and tomorrow but well into the future.

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New Waste Management reports from the Environmental Law Centre

The Environmental Law Centre has published two new reports on waste management and reduction in Alberta.

Good Riddance: Waste Management Law in Alberta is the 3rd Edition of the ELC's primer on the waste management system in Alberta. The report includes five sections covering (1) Legal Concepts and Institutions, (2) Waste Management & the Law, (3) Types of Waste, (4) Recycling, and (5) Import & Export of Waste.

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Extended Producer Responsibility: Designing the Regulatory Framework is a detailed look at the extended producer responsibility [“EPR”] model of waste management, and the potential application of EPR in Alberta's waste management system.

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Green Stimulus: Principles and recommendations for a 2020 economic stimulus package

The Pembina Institute has published their recommendations for a green economic stimulus package. In the publication, Pembina identifies four principles that are "integral to a stimulus response that ensures the future resilience of our economy":

  1. Priority should be given to funding that supports employment opportunities that are resilient to future economic shocks and disruption as the world seeks to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
  2. Investments that support the development of industries and businesses producing low- and zero-carbon goods and services should be prioritized to grow the foundation for Canada’s low-carbon economy and secure our domestic supply chain.
  3. Investments in industry should incent decarbonization efforts that go beyond existing regulatory requirements.
  4. Where possible, all stimulus and relief decisions should be made through the lens of Canada’s ability to meet its climate commitments.

While financial relief for impacted Canadians should be immediate and widereaching, economic stimulus interventions, if designed with climate and economic resilience in mind, represent an extraordinary opportunity to simultaneously boost the economy in the short term and make a down payment on a prosperous, resilient future.

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New report documents clash between rising oilsands emissions and Canada’s climate commitments

Pembina Institute recommends measures to halt rising emissions and decarbonize the oilsands sector

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Image of oil sands plant stacks

Photo: Fort McMurray, Alberta - Operation Arctic Shadow by Kris Krüg shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license | cropped from original

CALGARY — In a new report, the Pembina Institute documents the overall rise in greenhouse gas emissions from Canada’s oilsands, the conflict with the country’s 2030 and 2050 climate commitments, and how governments and industry can help ensure the sector remains competitive as it improves carbon performance.  Read More

Bighorn Country Proposal Factsheet

With just two weeks left to submit your input on the Government of Alberta's Bighorn Country Proposal, the Alberta Wilderness Association has published a factsheet addressing some of the common questions surrounding the proposal.

Bighorn Country offers a significant opportunity for careful, well reasoned management for this world class wilderness area.

Download the factsheet Read More

New Report—Future flows : climate resilience, environmental flows and Alberta's water law

The Environmental Law Centre has published a new report—Future flows : climate resilience, environmental flows and Alberta's water law—  calling for a "rethinking of water law and policy in Alberta"

Future flows highlights some of the challenges faced in managing for instream flow needs and assesses the current law and policy framework for its ability to manage flows in a precautionary and adaptive manner.

To learn more, read the highlights of the report on the ELC blog, or download the full report.

The ELC is also hosting a webinar "Future flows: Water law and policy in Alberta for a sustainable future" on February 20 at 12 noon.

Register

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