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The climate is changing. Our planet is warming at a rate unprecedented in our recorded history. Since the beginning of the Industrial Age (around 300 years ago), many human activities have involved the burning of fossil fuels. The use of coal to power engines and heat homes released pollutants as well as carbon dioxide, into the air. Since the 1700s, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 25 % and most of this increase can be attributed to human activities. Each year, human activities throughout the world add more than seven billion tonnes of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. In the face of increasing world wide demand for energy, Alberta has undergone significant economic expansion – one that is fueling the entire Canadian economy. As a result, Alberta's total greenhouse gas emissions have increased. But despite this expansion, Albertans have reduced the intensity of those emissions. All Albertans need to be part of the climate change solution. We desire a province that is clean for present and future generations, and we want to know how we can do our part. During public consultations with Albertans during the spring of 2007, most people indicated that they want Alberta to take the lead in developing new technologies aimed at further reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and want to lead in using energy more efficiently and effectively. Climate change is not an easy issue to understand. Predicting what will happen in our future is very uncertain. Climate change is also a global issue, but one with many local solutions. Small steps taken by many people can have a large impact - if every household in Canada replaced just one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent, the reduction in emissions would be the equivalent of taking 66,000 cars off the road annually. Today, we can reduce the impacts of climate change by practicing energy efficiency, reducing our energy consumption and switching to cleaner energy. These actions not only benefit our climate, they benefit our air quality, our pocket book and extend the life of Alberta's resource.What is Alberta’s plan for addressing climate change?In October 2002, Alberta released Canada’s first comprehensive action plan to deal with climate change. “Albertans and Climate Change: Taking Action” set out key directions aimed at helping governments, industry, and individual Albertans take realistic tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases. Alberta’s “Taking Action” plan focused on four main areas:
Wrestling down the growth of our emissions has been an important step; now there’s more to be done, and Albertans are moving forward on further reducing emissions. As we reach the five year anniversary of “Taking Action”, the Alberta government is updating its climate change action plan. The updated plan will incorporate public, stakeholder and expert feedback received in a series of consultations sessions held across the province between March and June 2007. The overwhelming message received from Albertans during these consultations has been clear: Alberta is leading the way, but Alberta can and must do more. What legislation exists in Alberta on climate change?Starting July 1, 2007, new climate change legislation came into effect in Alberta. The legislation applies to all industrial facilities that emit 100,000 tonnes or more of greenhouse gases a year. Such facilities account for about 70 per cent of Alberta’s industrial greenhouse gas emissions. The affected industrial facilities are now required to take actions to reduce their emissions intensity. The legislation provides a number of options for industry, which give all affected sectors the flexibility to meet their mandatory reductions. The compliance options promote made-in-Alberta solutions to climate change that bolster Alberta’s economy and encourage investment in technology that will support larger reductions in the future. These options include:
Contact Alberta Environment for more information on Alberta's Climate Change Strategy. |
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