Climate Change

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.