We don’t want a coalition of car manufacturers writing our car safety laws, or a coalition of pharmaceutical companies determining the health benefits of our medicines, so why entrust the future of climate change to a coalition of oil and gas companies whose products are the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters?
Climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions, and the fossil fuel industry is Canada’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. One-third of the country’s greenhouse gas emissionsHowever, in Canada, the oil industry is the biggest obstacle to tackling climate change. Greenhouse gas emissionsbut also by promoting a dangerous agenda. Weakening climate change policies.
Through a vast social network that includes law firms, lobbyists, PR firms, advertising agencies, academia and other institutions, the industry seeks to sway public opinion and increase the political influence of fossil fuels. Industry efforts to block or slow climate action are in the news almost daily. Alberta Environment Minister Furious at the bill Oil companies will have to prove their environmental claims, sparking calls for large-scale CCS projects Avoiding impact assessmentsConservative Party Leader Pierre Poirièvre’s election campaign He supports the expansion of methane (LNG) and opposes a carbon tax.
Industry opposition to federal emissions caps is another recent example. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), an industry lobbying group, said: The report was released The cost of mandating emissions caps: To make them seem as painful as possible, CAPP modeled the cost of reducing emissions by 40% by 2030. The proposed federal emissions caps would be Actual emissions need to be reduced by 20-23%The plan also assumes that companies will not maximize methane reductions, the quickest and cheapest way to reach this goal, by ignoring the job and environmental benefits that come with investing in oil and gas alternatives.
The industry is trying to make it seem like the caps are a burden on taxpayers, but the real burden is on the oil and gas companies. These companies are trying to evade responsibility for the mess they have caused and continue to cause, forcing taxpayers to either pay the price or face an increase in wildfires and extreme weather, all while making record profits. Their climate impacts are creating a mess that will become harder to clean up with each weakening of policy and delay in action.
Globally, climate change is already $16 million (USD) 1 hryou Average ReaderThat means that by the time you read this article, climate change will have cost you $1.2 million. Here in Canada, climate change is already costing Canadians. Billions of dollarsJust the insurance premium Soar Extreme weather caused by climate change is taking a toll in many places. And it’s not just financial. There are immeasurable social, emotional, life and livelihood losses, lost ecosystems, devastated communities. And once we cross critical climate thresholds, there is no turning back the clock. Chain effect.
The way forward is clear: the industry is not decarbonizing alone and any delay in climate action will come at a high cost. It is therefore crucial that the sector decarbonizes quickly and fairly to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Emissions caps are one tool we can use to help mitigate the worst climate impacts. They’re like fastening your seat belt: they help slow climate change and reduce some of the risks. They’re not enough, and they’re not everything we can do to protect ourselves and the planet, but they’re an essential step.
