Chapter 3 - Energy and Environment: Toward Achieving the Balance in Alberta

Abstract

Abstract Alberta's energy-and-environment story is a lot more than the chapter on “dirty oil” from the oil sands, and even that chapter requires some much-needed context. The province certainly faces some significant environmental challenges, especially in continuing to expand development of its vast oil sands deposits. However, Alberta also has pioneered environmental stewardship programs, although sometimes the province's “deliverables” do not match its good intentions on the environment. This presentation puts into global and North American context the economic benefits of Alberta's energy resources. It looks at air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how Alberta, through such organizations as the Energy Resources Conservation Board and the Clean Air Strategic Alliance, has led North America—and indeed the world—in: reducing air pollution, requiring large emitters to reduce their GHG emissions intensity, and providing significant support to help implement industrial-scale carbon capture and storage projects. This presentation also looks at Alberta's and the oil sands industry's management of water, land, and waste. It provides context for the improvements that have been made in these areas, as well as some thoughts on what still needs to be done to create a truly world-class monitoring system for oil sands development.