Environment commissioner expected to slam Tories

[mentalfloss]

Environment commissioner expected to slam Tories
Kyoto, climate change targets and contaminated sites subject of report

Climate change experts are expecting the federal environment commissioner to take a critical view of the government's policies on greenhouse gases when he tables his latest report this morning.

Environment commissioner Scott Vaughan's 2012 report will be tabled in the House of Commons. It has three chapters that deal with the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, Canada's 2020 climate change targets and federal contaminated sites.

"In this case, it's a file where consistently the federal government hasn't been living up to its promises," says Matt Horne, the Pembina Institute's acting director of climate change.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) says it thinks the commissioner's report will take the government to task but insisted that shouldn't detract from the progress Ottawa has made.

Dave Sawyer, IISD's director of climate and energy, says the government has moved closer to achieving its targets, but he also sees a difficult trail ahead.

"When you look at the path we're travelling down, one would wonder whether or not we can hit the target with the current path, the regulatory path," says Sawyer.

The commissioner is bound by law to report on Canada's progress in implementing the Kyoto Protocol even though the government pulled out of the agreement last year. This will be his final report on Kyoto.

As for the 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) targets of 17 per cent below 2005 levels, Sawyer and Horne are both skeptical about the government's ability to meet them.

"There's a lot of talk about the targets and not nearly enough action on achieving them," Horne says.

The main problem, Horne says, is the government's sector by sector regulatory approach to GHGs. The system takes too long and the oil and gas sector — where GHGs are increasing the most — doesn't even have regulations yet.

Environment commissioner expected to slam Tories - Politics - CBC News

 

[taxslave]

Another taxpayer funded program we can do without.

 

[mentalfloss]

Another taxpayer funded program we can do without.

The problem is that the oil and gas sector does not have any regulations yet, and those will cost more the longer we wait.

 

[captain morgan]

The problem is that the oil and gas sector does not have any regulations yet, and those will cost more the longer we wait.

Think about doing a little research on the assumptions you make prior to making incorrect statements.

 

[mentalfloss]

Think about doing a little research on the assumptions you make prior to making incorrect statements.

I'm just going by what is said in the article. If the guy is wrong, then I have no problems with you proving your case.

By the way, I am referring specifically to GHG regulations.

 

[captain morgan]

The oil/gas sector has been heavily regulated in all aspects, and yes, this includes enviro. Further, if you insist on perpetually posting new threads, the responsibility for some degree of accuracy is yours. It is not anyone else's job to school you on the most basic of points.

 

[mentalfloss]

the oil/gas sector has been heavily regulated in all aspects, and yes, this includes enviro.

ghg?

 

[earth_as_one]

Of course the oil and gas sectors have regulations. The issue here is that the Harper government isn't living up to its environmental commitments, has abandoned Kyoto and is in the process of weakening laws which protect our environment.

Not making a mess in the first place is far less expensive than cleaning it up afterwards. But spending money up front to save money later on requires a long term vision... but most corporations don't think about consequences beyond the next quarter and politicians don't look beyond the next election.

 

[mentalfloss]

Energy industry fought Ottawa over greenhouse gas regulations: documents

By Jason Fekete, Postmedia News April 2, 2012

OTTAWA — Petroleum producers weren't happy with Ottawa's plans last year for regulating greenhouse gases from the oil and gas sector and may have delayed the new rules from being introduced, federal documents reveal.

Correspondence obtained under access to information shows the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Conservative government were sparring in mid-2011 over what CAPP said were "serious deficiencies" in Ottawa's apparent plans to release — by last June — broad outlines for adopting new GHG regulations for the upstream oil and gas industry, including the carbon-intensive oilsands sector.

Ten months later, the long-awaited proposed regulations still haven't been released.

Environmental groups argue the documents further demonstrate the federal government is too often caving to the demands of industry in setting policy for the oil and gas sector.

In a letter from CAPP president David Collyer to Environment Minister Peter Kent, the lobby group said it was "deeply concerned by the lack of constructive dialogue and pursuit of common objectives on this file," and that the two sides should meet before any proposed regulations were issued.

CAPP specifically proposed arranging a meeting between its officials, oil and gas industry CEOs and the minister's office to resolve their concerns.

"Recent advise from your officials, confirmed by our CAPP member executives who met with Deputy Minister (Paul) Boothe last week, is that the federal government intends to issue its (notice of intent) on GHG regulations for the oil and gas sector 'by June,'" Collyer penned in his May 31, 2011 letter to Kent.

"This is of serious concern to CAPP and our members, in light of the lack of constructive dialogue to date and in view of what we consider to be serious deficiencies in Environment Canada's proposed regulatory approach for the oil and gas sector."

CAPP said it strongly endorses a consultative approach with industry and the provinces in establishing national climate change policy for the energy sector.

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, along with Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose, the two senior Alberta cabinet ministers, were copied on the letter.

About a week later, Kent's deputy minister responded in a letter, assuring CAPP that it got more face time than any other group or organization, and that the oil and gas industry would get plenty of time to provide its input on proposed regulations.

"I have personally met with you or talked to you on the phone six times in the nine months I have been Deputy Minister of the Environment. This includes going to Calgary to meet with your board of directors. In fact, I have met more frequently with CAPP than any other industry lobby group or environmental non-governmental organization," Environment Canada deputy minister Paul Boothe said in a letter to Collyer dated June 7, 2011.

"Further senior meetings with industry and provinces will be scheduled before a notice on intent (on regulations) is published," he added. "Interested parties will have ample opportunity to provide input."

Kent has since said the government likely will introduce the regulations sometime in 2012. His press secretary, Adam Sweet, said Monday the regulations are "forthcoming" but wouldn't commit to releasing them in 2012.

The letter from CAPP to the minister came a couple of days after the federal government acknowledged it deliberately excluded energy sector data — indicating an 11 per cent increase in annual emissions from the oilsands sector — from a climate change report it was required to submit to the United Nations.

CAPP said at the time it was disappointed with the federal government for not publicly reporting all the information, because the group provided all relevant data to Ottawa.

Matt Horne, director of climate change for the Pembina Institute, an Alberta-based environmental think-tank, said "it's frustrating" to see what he argued is a disconnect between CAPP's desire to delay and postpone regulations and the urgency of climate-change science.

"Every delay is increasing the environmental cost, but it's also increasing the economic cost," Horne said. "We need well-thought-through policies for sure, but we've got to be moving on them quickly."

There's also "not a lot of evidence" to suggest the federal government is serious about introducing serious greenhouse gas regulations for the petroleum industry, he said.

The Harper government has begun to introduce environmental regulations in some sectors, including emissions from new passenger vehicles. It also has proposed draft regulations for coal-fired electricity plants, although final rules aren't expected for a few months.

Energy industry fought Ottawa over greenhouse gas regulations: documents

 

[captain morgan]

Of course the oil and gas sectors have regulations. The issue here is that the Harper government isn't living up to its environmental commitments, has abandoned Kyoto and is in the process of weakening laws which protect our environment.

Not making a mess in the first place is far less expensive than cleaning it up afterwards. But spending money up front to save money later on requires a long term vision... but most corporations don't think about consequences beyond the next quarter and politicians don't look beyond the next election.

Kyoto was a bust from the get-go. There is no nation that has lived up to the regs that were foolishly dictated.

Want to blame someone, blame Chretin.

 

[mentalfloss]

Kyoto was a bust from the get-go. There is no nation that has lived up to the regs that were foolishly dictated.

Want to blame someone, blame Chretin.

 

[captain morgan]

Hey Flossy, I understand that you are bucking to become a Mod here at CC.

Tell me, will your role be to moderate the egregious and unnecessary over use of stupid jpegs, avis, etc?

Colour me curious.

 

[petros]

What is a "climate change expert"?

 

[mentalfloss]

Colour me curious.

My banstick will go after goal post shifters, so you're public enemy No. 1!

CRA audits charitable status of Tides Canada amid Tory attack - The Globe and Mail

Tides Canada Recognized as Leader in Transparency and Good Governance

 

[captain morgan]

What is a "climate change expert"?

I wouldn't hold my breath on this Petros. As long as Flossy inserts the word Report or Study in the title of the OP, he feels that it is concrete and factual

 

[petros]

I find nothing wrong with targeting fraud in all forms.

I wouldn't hold my breath on this Petros. As long as Flossy inserts the word Report or Study in the title of the OP, he feels that it is concrete and factual

It's okay. I like being pegged as critical of the hypothetical because brain washing is immoral.

 

[mentalfloss]

And here it is.

Feds 'unlikely' to meet climate goals: Audit

OTTAWA — The federal government is "unlikely" to meet climate-change goals agreed to by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and is in the dark about the price Canada's economy would pay to honour those commitments, said a new audit tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

The report by the government's environment and sustainable development commissioner, Scott Vaughan, suggested the government's lack of research contradicts its own arguments it is withdrawing from the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change to protect the Canadian jobs and industry.

Vaughan said his office expected that the government would analyze these costs to implement an effective plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

But its current approach of introducing regulations, one sector at a time, is incomplete and has not even analyzed whether the government's goal of aligning policies with the United States would be cost-effective, Vaughan's report said.

So far, he noted, the government has only brought in two regulations to control emissions in the transportation sector. Rules to govern emissions in the electricity sector have not been finalized and would not take effect until 2015. Furthermore, there are absolutely no regulations in place to slash pollution from oil-and-gas companies.

"We found that this approach lacks an overall implementation plan designed to achieve the 2020 target, as well as economic analysis to estimate what the approach will cost the Canadian economy," said the audit.

"Without an implementation plan, industry, consumers and other levels of government lack a solid basis for knowing how to adjust technology and make normal investment decisions."

His report said it was "unlikely" the government can implement a plan in time to meet Harper's target of reducing annual emissions by 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020.

In fact, said Vaughan, the government's own documents predict Canada's emissions will be 7.4 per cent above 2005 levels with the existing policies.

"Regulations are complex, and those developed to date have taken as long as five years to be developed and to realize greenhouse gas emission reductions," said the audit.

Vaughan wrote that the issue is critical.

"Climate change has far-reaching impacts on Canada's economy, infrastructure, and natural environment, and on human health," said the audit.

"Recent reports by the federal government indicate that every region of Canada has already been affected by the changing climate; in particular, Canadian communities and critical infrastructure are vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as drought, heat waves, flooding, and coastal storms."

Some existing policies adopted by the government, such as regulations to reduce tailpipe emissions from new cars, were anticipated to reduce annual emissions by about 11 to 13 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent gases per year.

But Vaughan said in order to meet the commitment, an additional 178 million tonnes in reductions are needed to meet the 2020 target.

He added "it is unlikely that enough time is left to develop and establish GHG regulations that together will contribute sufficient GHG reductions."

The audit also suggested that the government should be more transparent about revealing costs and investments related to its climate change policies, based on its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act.

The government, which plans to kill the legislation, told Vaughan's office it disagreed with this interpretation of the law. But said it was "committed to transparency," and planned to continue reporting on its performance and policies through other publicly released documents.

Feds 'unlikely' to meet climate goals: Audit

 

[petros]

Come west for the summer MF and take a look around. There is no way in hell oil production will ever be reduced in western Canada. It just ain't gonna happen.

 

[mentalfloss]

Come west for the summer MF and take a look around. There is no way in hell oil production will ever be reduced in western Canada. It just ain't gonna happen.

Okay?

 

[Liberalman]

......