Newly-sworn Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean says oil and gas will continue to dominate the world’s energy mix for years to come in response to a federal government report that says the country will have to reduce petroleum output some 70% to meet net zero targets..In an emailed statement to the Western Standard, Brian Jean said Alberta’s energy sector is already a global leader in producing some of the most responsible, reliable and environmentally friendly energy on Earth. .He was responding to a report Tuesday by the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) which suggested oil sands production would be reduced more than 83% if Canada is to meet it Paris Accord goals. Jean also represents Alberta’s oil sands heartland in his capacity as MLA.. Oil sands forecastCER says oil sands production would have to fall 85% to meet net-zero targets. .And he continued to insist that Alberta would achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, not 2035 as proposed by the federal government..The CER numbers were based on assessments by the Paris-based International Energy Agency..“Every credible forecaster sees oil and gas continuing to dominate the energy mix for decades to come,” he said. .“Alberta has been very clear; we want the federal government to work with Alberta and our energy sector to reach net-zero 2050 targets. The goal here is to reduce emissions, not phase out oil and gas production.”. Energy mixOil and gas — in green — under the CER’s net-zero scenarios. .Jean said he is confident the province can achieve the goal through investment in technology and increased LNG exports to replace higher emitting fuels internationally — and not production cuts. .“I am confident we can protect our world-class energy sector while continuing to drastically reduce emissions, which is why we are prioritizing bilateral discussions with the federal government.”
Newly-sworn Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean says oil and gas will continue to dominate the world’s energy mix for years to come in response to a federal government report that says the country will have to reduce petroleum output some 70% to meet net zero targets..In an emailed statement to the Western Standard, Brian Jean said Alberta’s energy sector is already a global leader in producing some of the most responsible, reliable and environmentally friendly energy on Earth. .He was responding to a report Tuesday by the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) which suggested oil sands production would be reduced more than 83% if Canada is to meet it Paris Accord goals. Jean also represents Alberta’s oil sands heartland in his capacity as MLA.. Oil sands forecastCER says oil sands production would have to fall 85% to meet net-zero targets. .And he continued to insist that Alberta would achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, not 2035 as proposed by the federal government..The CER numbers were based on assessments by the Paris-based International Energy Agency..“Every credible forecaster sees oil and gas continuing to dominate the energy mix for decades to come,” he said. .“Alberta has been very clear; we want the federal government to work with Alberta and our energy sector to reach net-zero 2050 targets. The goal here is to reduce emissions, not phase out oil and gas production.”. Energy mixOil and gas — in green — under the CER’s net-zero scenarios. .Jean said he is confident the province can achieve the goal through investment in technology and increased LNG exports to replace higher emitting fuels internationally — and not production cuts. .“I am confident we can protect our world-class energy sector while continuing to drastically reduce emissions, which is why we are prioritizing bilateral discussions with the federal government.”
