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Canadian leaders warn shutting down O&G would carry heavy price
Gary Park for Petroleum News
There is no justification for critics to continue vilifying Canada’s petroleum industry provided the sector displays its resolve to tackle climate change, says Bob Rae, a political leader of note who is currently Canadian ambassador to the United Nations.
“In the case of Canada, we shouldn’t be remembered for who we are,” he told the 22nd annual Global Business Forum at the Canadian Rockies resort town of Banff.
“We’re not the only country that’s an oil and gas producer.”
But he didn’t dismiss a UN report issued in August that portrayed the fast-evolving threat posed by climate change as “code red for humanity” because of its many elements that can no longer be corrected and the narrowing window of time to head off grave consequences.
Rae said climate change and its impacts are “not something that is happening in the future, it’s happening now.”
With a career highlighted by one term as Ontario premier, a long association with the socialist New Democratic Party, and a stint as interim leader of the federal Liberal Party, he rejected as completely unrealistic a campaign by some of his former associates to shut down the industry in short order.
“The first thing we have to do is be honest and real - I look out my window in New York City and people are still driving cars,” he said.
“The oil and gas industry is going to continue to play a role in Canada and the world. The challenge is making it cleaner.”
Insignificant share no excuse But Rae is unhappy with Canadians who insist there is no reason for their country to reduce the effects of climate change because of their insignificant share of global greenhouse gas emissions - estimated at 1.5%, although the average per household emissions are almost double those of the United Kingdom, France and Norway.
He said it’s not reasonable for Canada to leave the challenge of lowering GHG emissions to others. “We should never be free riders. We can’t persuade others to do something if we’re not willing to do it ourselves.”
Gary Mar, a former Alberta cabinet minister, asked Rae how countries such as Russia, China and Saudi Arabia should be held accountable for their contribution to emissions.
Rae replied that pressure can be applied by the internet and social media.
“The process of change and transformation is going to be a very public process. There’s going to be no place to hide,” he said.
Rae cautioned that lagging behind at this stage would make the goal of achieving a reduction in GHG emissions by 40% to 45% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050 “painful and difficult” for Canada.
Former Suncor Energy Chief Executive Officer Steve Williams said there should be “an urgency but not craziness” about pursuing those targets.
He said a full transition away from fossil fuels would take decades, noting that “global national security” will be heavily dependent on oil and gas.
Shutting down the petroleum sector would make no sense if it left Canada to import the products needed to keep the country functioning.
- GARY PARK
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