Meeting U.S. energy demands worsens climate change

February 23, 2001 - VANCOUVER - By agreeing to help the U.S. meet its energy demands, Canada has put expanded oil and gas production ahead of its international commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says the David Suzuki Foundation in a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale will begin laying the groundwork for a North American continental energy policy when he meets with U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham in Washington on Monday. The U.S. is actively seeking Canadian and Mexican cooperation to expand its energy supplies and address oil and gas price increases. Prime Minister Jean Chretien has already offered substantial expansion of Alberta's oil sands to U.S. President George Bush.

"If Canada agrees to boost its oil and gas production to meet U.S. demands, it will cause our greenhouse gas emissions to rise and worsen climate change," said Gerry Scott, Director of the David Suzuki Foundation's Climate Change Campaign. "Ottawa is putting misguided U.S. energy policy ahead of Canada's international commitments on climate change. For example, the emissions from the production of a 150,000 barrel-a-day oil sands operation is equal to the greenhouse gas emissions of 1.35 million cars."

Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, Canada committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels. A new report from the United Nations warns that the world faces dramatic climate changes caused by global warming before the end of the century, and that the unhindered burning of fossil fuels will cause the Earth's atmosphere to warm by up to 5.8 degrees Celcius by 2100. Canada will be among the countries experiencing some of the greatest warming and most severe impacts.

"Instead of expanding the oil and gas supply, Canada should be emphasizing energy efficiency and conservation and expanding renewable power sources," said Mr. Scott. "We need to change the way we use and consume energy. It's time for new approaches that minimize environmental and climate damage. Prime Minister Chretien must step in and create a Canadian energy policy that addresses energy efficiency before we agree to a potentially harmful North American energy policy with the U.S. If we're going to cooperate with the Americans, let's do so with renewable energy and energy efficiency as the goals -- not higher emission levels."30 -

February 23, 2001

Right Honourable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
K1A 0A2


Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing on behalf of the David Suzuki Foundation to express our grave concern regarding recent statements by yourself and Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale on the United States' current energy demands and the implications for Canada. We are particularly concerned that developing more oil and gas production in Canada will result in definite and tragic consequences for northern communities, the environment and Canadian consumers. By agreeing to substantial expansion of supply through new developments, your proposals will further undercut Canada's international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As the most recent scientific assessments have indicated, northern countries such as Canada are expected to feel the brunt of climate change impacts. Potential effects of climate change on the Arctic and Northern Canada include: lower minimum water levels in the region's waterways, increased erosion from thawing permafrost, a rise in the number of forest fires and landslides, and a reduction in the yields of forests. Other impacts in Canada include increased air pollution, heat stress, drought and intensification of heavy precipitation events.

Even today, parts of northern Canada are suffering from unprecedented rapid changes in local climate. For example, Arctic ice is disappearing at a rate of 37,000 square kilometres per year. Recent analysis of submarine data measuring remaining Arctic ice has revealed that since 1958 Arctic ice is up to four feet thinner than in 1958 when measurements began. The Canadian Wildlife Service has also determined that polar bears are losing valuable spring feeding time as a result of early sea ice break up, causing bears to return to land with lower body fat in reserve to carry them over the summer. In addition to climate change impacts, pollution from fossil fuel combustion is contributing to the deaths of up to 16,000 Canadians each year. Clearly we are paying a high price for our government's support of the fossil fuel industry.

A North American energy policy based on substantial increases in the supply of fossil fuels will have a significant negative impact on Canada's greenhouse gas reduction target. The most recent inventory of greenhouse gas emissions shows that, in 1997, the upstream oil and gas industry was responsible for over 15 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions (this does not include the combustion of these fuels). In fact, this sector has seen emissions grow by 18 per cent since 1990. Due to the planned expansion of oil production in the Alberta tar sands, we can expect this level of growth to be exceeded with or without a continental energy policy since this type of production is extremely energy intensive. Producing one barrel of oil from tar sands results in 90 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions at the plant itself. As a result adding a new tar sands plant, with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, is equal to putting another 1.35 million automobiles on the road.

The irony of this trend is that the growth in oil and gas production and associated greenhouse gas emissions is occurring at a time when Canada is committed to a six per cent reduction below 1990 emission levels. Before we begin encouraging even greater expansion of this industry, Canada has to implement a plan to curtail its current emissions' growth. This is the path all of North America must be on.

As recently as last June , you appeared to agree with us. When you spoke to the World Petroleum Congress, in Calgary, you stated that, "We in Canada believe that climate change is real. That we must adapt. And that the demand for low-carbon or carbon-free energy will grow." We hope that you instruct the Minister of Natural Resources to take this very urgent message to Washington when he meets with the U.S. Secretary of Energy.

Rather than pursue the fossil fuel strategy, Canada and the U.S. must begin developing clean renewable energy systems which will protect our climate and protect consumers from wildly fluctuating fuel prices. For example, right now wind power, which has no fuel cost, is the fastest growing new source of energy in the world, yet there are barely any wind power plants being added to the electricity system in Canada. In addition there is enormous potential for improvements in automobile, equipment and building efficiency.