SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS
This document addresses opportunities and challenges
facing Canada in relation to its long-term energy and climate
change future. Specifically, it deals with how to, by 2050:
- Meet the energy needs of a growing economy
- Achieve substantial reductions in carbon emissions
- Improve the quality of Canadas air
The following key findings are derived from an examination
of a 2050 scenario developed by energy consultants ICF International.
The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
(NRTEE) members approved all recommendations in this advisory
note.
These findings suggest a possible path for how Canada can
meet its future energy needs and address the pressing environmental
challenges of climate change and clean air.
- There can be a domestic solution to
making significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions by
mid-century, but significant reductions can be achieved
only if energy is used more efficiently and if energy
is produced while emitting less carbon. Energy and climate
change policy in the 21st century means addressing both
energy use and energy production. The
question is not which technologies to deploy,
but how to deploy all of the potential GHG reduction
technologies. How to effectively deploy many different
technologies in several sectors is an important policy
issue.
- Energy use: Increasing energy efficiency is key
by doing so we could achieve approximately 40 per
cent of our goal of a 60 per cent reduction in GHG emissions.
- Energy production:
i) Oil and gas sector: Canadas growing role as
a major energy exporter is compatible with deep GHG
emissions, but only if carbon capture and sequestration
(CCS) is perfected. Resource extraction in the 21st
century needs to take into account GHG reduction and
adaptation to a carbon-constrained world economy
this benefits Canada both environmentally and competitively
as a leading provider of world energy.
ii) Electricity generation: To reduce GHG emissions
by 60 per cent, the electricity sector will need to
be transformed between now and 2050. As with the oil
and gas sector, clean coal technology involving
CCS plays an important role this study assumes
that all coal-fired generation in Alberta, and Saskatchewan
will use CCS by 2050. After CCS, the largest reductions
pertaining to electricity generation are from co-generation
and renewables (particularly wind).
- Urgent need for a long-term signal The
chief difficulty in significantly reducing GHG emissions
is not the lack of relevant technologies rather
it is the lack of a long-term signal. Such a signal is
needed to help the private sector make shorter-term investment
decisions that take GHG reductions into consideration.
These decisions, affecting Canadas energy use and
production infrastructure, are taken now, every day. It
is important to send the appropriate signal as soon as
possible. The longer we wait, the more difficult it will
be.
- Significant co-benefits Air pollution
reductions and other co-benefits in key areas will occur
along with the reduction of GHG emission reduction. For
instance, significant economic co-benefits through the
marketing of clean energy technologies will occur. However,
domestic platforms, especially for areas such as carbon
capture and sequestration, need to be made a national
priority.
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