Premier Ed Stelmach announced the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The long term goal is to reduce emissions to 14% below 2005 levels by 2050. The Strategy is more based on CO2 capture and storage than developing renewable energy. Investments will be weak in this sector. This goal is far from the objectives set by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). The NRTEE advised Alberta to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions of 24% by 2020, and 66% by 2050.
This decision is directly linked to the oil lobby, very powerful in Alberta. Oil provides wealth, and a high level of life to people from this State. The main problem caused by this policy is global for Canada. If the country does not reach its objectives, it would put Canada in a difficult situation reliance on other countries.
Ironically, since January, The Tobacco Reduction Act bans smoking in all public places and workplaces, and prohibits smoking within five metres of a doorway, window or air intake of a public place or workplace. That will certainly not help Alberta to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nor people to breath a cleaner air.
Full story: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/01/24/alta-environment.html?ref=rss
