Canada’s recently released Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report indicates a decrease in emissions in Alberta, despite a rise in energy production.
Covering the 2022 year, the report reveals that per-barrel emissions from the oil sector decreased despite increased production. However, Alberta managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by only one megaton during the reporting period.
“Alberta’s per-barrel emissions are declining while energy demand continues to rise, as the National Inventory Report demonstrates,” stated Rebecca Shulz, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “In fact, despite increased oil and gas production in our province, our total emissions decreased.”
In December, oil sands production hit a record high of 3.57 million barrels per day as producers geared up for the completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline project.
Nationwide, greenhouse gas emissions totaled 708 megatonnes, the lowest in a quarter-century excluding the pandemic years, with Alberta contributing 38 percent of that total.
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault commented, “The report indicates that Canada’s climate change policies are effective. We are progressing towards meeting our emission reduction targets as our country rebounds strongly from the global impact of the pandemic.”
Alberta’s Minister of Environment shares Guilbeault’s optimism, affirming that the province is on course to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.