Alberta prepared to take more action against climate change, minister says

2/14/2013

CALGARY — Alberta, home of the oil sands, agrees that it has further to go to reduce greenhouse gases and is looking at opportunities to improve its climate change strategy, International Relations Minister Cal Dallas said Thursday.

The minister said he watched U.S. President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address Tuesday evening and he applauds the president’s resolve to accelerate the fight against climate change.

U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson said Wednesday the message was meant as much for Canada as it was for the United States.

In an interview, Mr. Dallas said: “There is nothing that the president said that isn’t completely aligned with our commitments. So in the context of that, do we think there is further we need to go in Alberta with respect to GHGs? Absolutely.

“Our environment minister is taking a look at the options around what a renewal of our climate strategy would look like. Obviously there would be a focus in that on greenhouse gases. And that is what the future looks like in Alberta.”

Related
Obama aims to tackle climate change in second term
U.S. ambassador warns Canada over climate change as concerns about Obama Keystone tradeoff grow
Empowered green groups gain upper hand in pipeline battle
There have been suggestions that the U.S. President would like Canada to improve greenhouse gas regulations in exchange for approving the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline from Alberta to Texas.

Mr. Dallas noted that Alberta has been out in front in implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wants to see complementary moves by other jurisdictions so that it’s energy sector isn’t disadvantaged.

Alberta was the first jurisdiction in North America to impose a carbon tax on large emitters. The money has been placed in a clean energy fund that has raised $312-million so far and has funded 40 projects in green energy technologies.

Alberta has also spent aggressively on carbon capture and storage technology.

Mr. Dallas said Alberta’s drive for more action on the environment goes beyond the Keystone XL pipeline.

(National Post)