by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
COP or Conference of Parties (governments) does raise a considerable amount of media attention, and during this time, everyone is talking about climate change.
This year, COP28 was hosted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The COP28 President, Sultan Al-Jaber is also head of the UAE national oil company, one of the ten largest in the world.
The COP28 President highlighted the climate summit with his indication that he is not on board with plans to end fossil fuel use. He says, “phase down is inevitable, it can only happen when the world has added a sufficient amount of renewable energy capacity.” A British journalist wrote that Jaber’s appointment was akin to putting a major tobacco manufacturer in charge of an anti-smoking conference. Attendees raised their eyebrows at his appointment; however, COP only has a Code of Conduct policy. The COP28 President is leading an initiative to get oil and gas companies to agree to “nearly” eliminate their emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Methane, the major component of natural gas, traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It accounts for roughly a third of global warming since industrialization, according to researchers. Methane doesn’t stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, it is better at trapping heat, so cutting methane emissions is considered one of the most effective ways of tackling climate change. Already, the planet has warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius since the preindustrial era began 250 years ago, and so far, we’ve experienced frequent and intense extreme weather, plus people’s lives are changing.
Canada announced at COP28, that it is cutting methane emissions by 75% by 2030. The regulations are in step with the US commitments on methane reduction. As soon as this was announced, Alberta’s UCP government vowed to fight the new federal methane target. At the same time, Canada’s oilpatch calls the goal achievable. The president of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada said the federal government’s proposed stronger methane regulations seem to be going in the right direction and that the increased cost to the oil and gas industry is manageable.
Cutting methane emissions is estimated to be the fastest and best way to reduce pollution that’s contributing to climate change, and to be in line with scientific UN studies that state we should continue to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.
Sources:
Politico, CBC, Global News, NRDC, Calgary Herald
Click here to the Crescent Heights Community News home page for the latest Crescent Heights community updates.
