Industry insiders claim that the Energy East Pipeline will create tens of thousands of jobs across Canada and add tens of billions of dollars to GDP. Our study not only puts these claims into question, it highlights important considerations such as the Social Cost of Carbon, Canada's commitment to fight climate change and the economic viability of heavy crude production under current pricing regimes. The report also explains how Manitoba's ability to develop and expand renewable energy sources offers more potential to create decent jobs and a more sustainable economy.
Environment and sustainability
Under the Paris Agreement, Canada has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. This study assesses the consequences of several scenarios of expansion in the oil and gas sector in terms of the amount that the non–oil and gas sectors of the economy would need to reduce emissions to meet Canada’s Paris commitments. It finds Canada cannot meet its global climate commitments while at the same time ramping up oil and gas extraction and building new export pipelines.
(Ottawa) Une nouvelle étude signée par le vétéran géologue et spécialiste des ressources David Hughes conclut que le Canada ne peut respecter ses engagements à l’égard du climat mondial tout en permettant une augmentation de l’extraction du pétrole et du gaz et la construction de nouveaux pipelines d’exportation.
Under Alberta’s oil sands emissions cap (set at 100 million tonnes per year), growth in oil sands production would be limited to 45% over 2014 levels. There is already more than enough existing pipeline and rail capacity to handle that capacity. The additional pipelines being lobbied for by industry and governments are not necessary.
(OTTAWA) A new study by veteran earth scientist David Hughes finds that Canada cannot meet its global climate commitments while at the same time ramping up oil and gas extraction and building new export pipelines.
Inside this issue:
Time to do away with MSP, by Iglika Ivanova
Yes, let’s lower the voting age in Canada, by Seth Klein
Housing budget? Not so much, by Marc Lee
Getting serious about good jobs
Refugees are bringing new attention to the gaps in our social safety net, by Suzanne Smythe
BC government’s spin cycle on LNG, by Marc Lee
Avi Lewis promotes the Leap Manifesto at the 2016 NDP convention in Edmonton. (Photo by Joshua Berson)
Premier McNeil and Finance Minister Delorey,
The dramatic social and economic costs of a changing climate are well-documented, requiring an immediate and multi-pronged strategy on the part of governments to meet the challenges faced today, which will continue to intensify for future generations. Canada’s commitment to the Paris target of limiting average global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius means we need to increase the ambition of our provincial climate plan.
Premier Christy Clark’s vow to push work at the $9-billion Site C dam “past the point of no return” may be music to the ears of some construction contractors, but not to all pulp and paper firms.
I often get asked about alternatives to our fossil-fuelled status quo. In recent years, there have been many new projects that point to the way forward, that get beyond vague statements about reducing carbon emissions and boosting clean energy. Our CCPA-BC office held a conference last year to examine new approaches to good and green jobs. One of our presenters was Lynne Fernandez from our Manitoba office, who offered some lessons for BC from Manitoba: a network of innovative projects engaging both the Manitoba government and social enterprises.