Harper gov't alters climate targets but protects tar sands
Harper gov't alters climate targets but protects tar sands
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nationalobserver.com - The Harper government is pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, but in a way that does not affect the oil sands emissions - the largest source of the climate warming pollution, say environmental critics.
Speaking in Winnipeg, Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq promised to introduce new regulations on methane emissions produced by the oil and gas industry, as well as new rules for natural gas-fired power generation and emissions from the chemical industry.
"First, Canada intends to develop regulations aligned with actions recently proposed by the United States to reduce methane from the oil and gas sector," Aglukkaq said Friday.
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And while the new target is a decrease, missing from the federal government's action plan to curb greenhouse gases is the oil sands, says Environmental Defence's climate monitoring expert, Dale Marshall.
"Every sector needs to take responsibility for their emissions. And the Tar Sands in particular is a big reason why Canada is not meeting our climate change goals."