Government

Highlights of Alberta’s new climate change action plan

Alberta is in a unique position as a global energy supplier. Our economy is growing, so our greenhouse gas emissions will rise over the short term. But as new industrial technology comes on stream, our emissions will drop. Alberta’s emissions are projected to grow to 400 million tonnes by 2050, largely due to forecast growth in the oil sands sector. Alberta’s new plan will cut the 400 million tonnes in half by 2050, with much of the reduction coming from oil sands activities.

Alberta’s climate change plan is based on three key areas: carbon capture and storage, energy conservation and efficiency, and greening energy production.

Carbon capture and storage technology
Alberta is the first in North America to direct dedicated funding to implement carbon capture and storage across industrial sectors.

• The technology will be responsible for 70 per cent of our emissions reductions by 2050 – the bulk of those reductions will come from activities related to oil sands production.
• A government-industry council will provide a made-in-Alberta blueprint for the immediate advancement of carbon capture and storage technology. 
• The plan includes enhanced support for ongoing research and monitoring of carbon capture and storage projects.
• In-situ oil sands facilities that want to use heavier fuels for steam generation will have to incorporate carbon capture and storage into their building plans.

Energy efficiency and consumer incentives

• Alberta will provide incentives for energy efficiency to help Albertans reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Details on incentive programs will be announced at a later date.
• Government will develop energy efficiency standards in building codes for homes and commercial buildings.
• The plan includes support for municipalities and other groups in finding ways to reduce emissions, including land use planning.
• Strategies to help the agricultural and forestry sectors to reduce emissions will also be implemented.

Greening energy production

• The updated plan includes increased investment in clean energy technology. For example:
  • Funding projects that will help reduce the cost of separating carbon dioxide from other emissions in order to support carbon capture and storage.
  • Supporting research on new oil sands extraction processes that use less energy, less water and reduce tailing ponds.
• A focus on testing and implementing new clean energy technologies will be included in the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund.

Alberta’s record

• Created Climate Change Central, a public-private partnership, helping Albertans cut emissions (1999)
• First in Canada with a comprehensive climate change action plan (2002)
• Provided more than $30 million in interest-free loans for 60 projects to increase energy efficiency in municipal buildings (2003-2006)
• First in Canada to require large industry to report greenhouse gas emissions (2004)
• Helped Albertans replace more than 5,700 old furnaces with energy efficient models, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 90,000 tonnes (2004/2005)
• Ninety per cent of electricity to power government-owned buildings comes from green sources (2005)
• Helped nearly 14,000 Albertans switch to Energy Star qualified clothes washers (2005/2006) 
• Held comprehensive consultations with public, stakeholders and experts to gather input for new climate change plan (2007)
• First in North America to legislate mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reductions across sectors (2007)
• First in Canada to institute an emissions levy with the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund (2007)
• New government division established to focus on protecting the environment during oil sands development (2007) 
• Address growth by setting new regional environmental limits for the Industrial Heartland, including limits on greenhouse gas emissions  (2007)