Canada needs to take more action to transition away from fossil fuels

Statement from Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – We applaud today’s report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which sends a clear signal: the era of fossil fuels is ending. For the first time, the IEA now predicts that demand for all fossil fuels will peak this decade and significantly decline, even without any additional climate policy. The updated IEA Net-Zero report sends an important message from a global body of energy experts to countries like Canada to pivot and transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy, while we still have time.

Although the use of fossil fuels is expected to peak this decade – oil and gas demand falls by 20 per cent by 2030, a decline that is due to the remarkable and rapid roll out of clean energy technologies across the world – the IEA is clear that more urgent and bold climate action is needed to keep global temperatures to below 1.5 degrees. Current emissions reduction pledges from countries around the world are not ambitious enough to prevent further climate catastrophes.

For Canada, this means that federal and provincial governments need to act urgently to implement stronger climate policies and phase out fossil fuels. Currently, Canada is on track to be the world’s second largest developer of new oil and gas extraction.

Yet, the IEA’s report clearly shows that governments must stop approving new fossil fuels – and close some oil and gas fields early. We can’t afford any more fossil fuel expansion, nor can we afford to rely on speculative technologies, like carbon capture, that have a long history of failure.

The Government of Canada has promised to release the draft regulations of the long-awaited, much delayed, oil and gas emissions cap this year. To ensure that Canada does its fair share on the global stage and protects its economy from rapidly changing global markets, the upcoming cap on oil and gas emissions must be ambitious and implemented without any more delays.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca