Climate change

In January 2008, the Alberta government released its action plan to address climate change. The new plan incorporates public, stakeholder and expert feedback from consultations held across the province.

The new approach builds on Alberta’s 2002 climate change action plan, taking the next step to ensure our province remains at the forefront of addressing this global environmental issue. Read the news release, the facts on climate change in Alberta and the overview of Alberta’s new plan.

Double-click the play button to start the video. (8:45)

The Alberta Approach

Clear thinking. Clean results.

As one of the largest energy producers in the world, Alberta’s challenges are perhaps bigger than those of other jurisdictions, but so are the opportunities to make a real and positive impact. Alberta’s climate change strategy takes our province’s unique position as a starting point. Given the world’s continuing reliance on Alberta’s supply of oil and gas, all projections point to strong growth in our economy over the next few years.

Taking action on three fronts
Alberta’s approach is focused on three broad themes:

  • Implementing carbon capture and storage;
  • Conserving and using energy efficiently; and
  • Greening energy production.

Within each of the themes, Alberta will take specific action to produce reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Together these initiatives will deliver a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050 compared to business as usual or a 14 per cent reduction below 2005 levels.

Implementing carbon capture and storage – 70% (139 megatonnes)
Alberta is the first jurisdiction in North America to direct dedicated funding to implement carbon capture and storage technology 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 plan for the immediate advancement of carbon capture and storage technology. There will also be enhanced support for ongoing research and monitoring of carbon capture and storage projects.

Conserving and using energy efficiently – 12% (24 megatonnes)
The Alberta government will provide incentives for energy efficiency along with information to help Albertans reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Alberta will support municipalities and other groups in finding ways to reduce emissions, including land use planning. The provincial government will also conduct consultation and implement energy efficiency standards in building codes for homes and commercial buildings and implement strategies to help the agricultural and forestry sectors reduce emissions.

Greening energy production – 18% (37 megatonnes)
In order to green energy production, Alberta will increase investment in clean energy technology. The province will do this by funding projects that will help reduce the cost of separating carbon dioxide from other emissions, supporting carbon capture and storage. Alberta will also support research on new oil sands extraction processes that use less energy, less water and reduce tailing ponds.

Alberta will include, in the establishment of the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, a focus on testing and implementing new clean energy technologies.

Looking ahead
In the coming months, the provincial government will outline specific implementation plans to move ahead with the actions in this strategy. The government will report regularly on progress made and adapt the strategy as more is learned.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity in Alberta

New climate change regulations, effective July 1, 2007, require Alberta facilities that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year to reduce emissions intensity by 12 per cent.

Companies have three ways to meet their reductions. They can make operating improvements, buy Alberta-based credits or contribute to the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund.

Read the facts about:

More information is available in the technical information for industry, which includes details about the:

2007 compliance reporting documents