Strong methane regulations the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective way to protect our environment, say 16 Alberta organizations

Joint letter urges the alberta government to seize the economic and environmental opportunity available by enacting strong methane regulations to capture wasted natural gas

Edmonton, Alberta—16 community and environmental organizations from across Alberta are calling on the province to implement mandatory methane regulations to reduce climate pollution from the oil and gas sector, help meet the Province's emission reduction targets, capture valuable natural gas this is currently wasted and catch up to other leading energy-producing jurisdictions.  

A joint letter was submitted on March 9, 2018 to the Alberta government to inform the development of the Province's new methane regulations for the oil and gas sector.

If done right, mandatory methane regulations deliver significant emission reductions at very low cost using effective technology that exists today. More than 200 Canadian companies are ready to go to work to reduce methane release.  

"We're losing $21 million a year in natural gas royalties because of how much natural gas the industry is wasting. That's money that could be going to hire nurses or to build schools and playgrounds," said Duncan Kinney, executive director of Progress Alberta.

"Now is the time to bring in smart, effective regulations on wasted natural gas."

Industry has demonstrated that methane emissions can and should be reduced. But without mandatory implementation, regulations will fail to benefit emission reduction goals.

"A majority of Albertans want mandatory methane regulations. Recent polling conducted in Alberta shows 66% favour mandatory methane regulations over a voluntary approach," said Jule Asterisk, executive director of Keepers of the Athabasca.

"71% want Alberta's regulations to be at least as strong as US States and 63% want to ban intentional venting of methane."

Mandatory regulations are a necessary and achievable step for Alberta to continue to be a world leader in energy technology.

"Alberta needs regulations that achieve the same or better methane emission reductions as the federal regulations to keep Alberta at the forefront of the energy sector," stated Duncan Kenyon, director of the responsible fossil fuels program at the Pembina Institute.

The joint letter is signed by:

  • Alberta Wilderness Association
  • Calgary Climate Action Network
  • The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
  • Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Northern Alberta
  • Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern Alberta
  • The Council of Canadians Edmonton Chapter
  • Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca
  • Healthy Edmonton
  • Keepers of the Athabasca
  • Keepers of the Water
  • Mewassin Community Council
  • The Peace River Environmental Society
  • Pembina Institute
  • Prairie Acid Rain Coalition
  • Progress Alberta
  • Southern Alberta Group for the Environment

View the complete letter here: www.protectalberta.org/methane-letter/

Media Contact: Jule Asterisk
Executive Director, Keepers of the Athabasca
780-805-1709, [email protected]