Canada passed the first ever emissions regulations for the oil and gas sector – let's make sure it sticks!
- by: Environmental Defence - 3
- recipient: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna
Canada recently introduced some of the broadest methane reduction regulations in the world – a genuine win for the climate. But this groundbreaking regulation is in danger of being undermined by significantly weaker provincial rules that won't result in nearly the same reductions.
Unfortunately, Alberta has proposed methane regulations that won't pull their own weight. Alberta's draft regulations won't produce the same reductions as other provinces will be required to. Added to that is the huge gaps in monitoring and reporting resembling a police officer trying to tell if someone is speeding without a speedometer!
Dealing with methane emissions should be a no-brainer. Plugging the leaks is cheap, the benefits to the climate can be seen in the short term, and the captured methane can be sold as natural gas.
Send a letter urging the Federal government not to accept Alberta's draft regulations as equivalent.
Subject: Don't back down now on strong methane regulations!
Dear [Decision Maker],
The Canadian government showed leadership by creating strong regulations to reduce the methane emitted by the oil and gas sector. It is important to me that Canada has taken this big step forward on climate change.
Now the provinces have to do their part, and the draft regulations released by Alberta are not up to the standard the Canadian government has set. They will not result in the same emission reductions as the federal rules will, and they fall short on monitoring and reporting.
[Your Comment Here]
Please ensure that this big step forward isn't undercut by weaker provincial standards - provincial rules must be required to achieve verifiable reductions consistent with national emission reduction targets and the federal regulations.
Thank you for taking strong action on methane emissions. Please don't back down now.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
