PEMBINA INST. - Lima to Paris, Part e

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Four ways Alberta could turn its climate record around - Lima to Paris: Part 3

[ http://www.pembina.org/op-ed/four-ways- ... ord-around ]

By Chris Severson-Baker Published in iPolitics (Dec. 12, 2014).

The wrap-up of UN climate talks in Lima, Peru, comes at a significant time for Alberta. Environment Canada’s latest Emissions Trends report [ http://ec.gc.ca/Publications/E998D465-B ... E-2014.pdf ] confirms that Canada is not on track to hit its 2020 climate target, and the growth in Alberta’s carbon pollution is a significant barrier.

But Alberta’s new climate strategy is expected by the end of the year, and the province has several big opportunities to turn things around.

Alberta emits more carbon pollution than Ontario and Quebec — home to over 60 per cent of Canada’s population — put together. Progress in other provinces is being cancelled out by rising carbon pollution from Alberta.

[ Chart showing change in GHG emissions in Canada from 2005 to 2020 (projected) by province. ]

With rapid growth in the oilsands projected to continue, it’s critical to get Alberta’s carbon pollution under control.

Here are some of the big ways Alberta could tackle that challenge.

MORE:

[ http://www.pembina.org/op-ed/four-ways- ... ord-around ]

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Chris Severson-Baker is an energy policy expert with the Pembina Institute. He directs the Institute’s work in Alberta, and lives in Calgary.
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This op-ed is Part 3 in a series exploring climate action in Canada's westernmost provinces.

See Part 1: How the West can help drive Canada’s action on climate, and
[ http://www.pembina.org/op-ed/lima-to-pa ... on-climate ]

Part 2: How B.C. does climate policy right.
[ http://www.pembina.org/op-ed/how-bc-doe ... licy-right ]