Paris Climate Agreement ---- Alberta

How did an NDP premier convince big oil that charging a fee for everyone’s carbon emissions is a good idea?

How did she do it?

Won’t that lower demand for their products? 

And how did she sell them on the notion that capping tarsands emissions is something to smile about?

Notley’s speech about the new policies provides a clue. She used the world “capital” — financial investment — almost as many times as she used the world “climate.”

For as groundbreaking as the new climate change policies are, they also recognize that without the oil industry and continued investment in that sector of the provincial economy, Alberta would not have much of a future.

That’s why there is no pledge to reduce carbon emissions by a specific amount by 2030 or even 2050. In fact, according to a detailed report prepared for the government after much expert and public consultation, even with the new policies Alberta’s carbon emissions will actually increase over the next 15 years and then level off.

Rachel Notley's climate policies set a new standard: Steward

Rachel Notley will sell a 'different' Alberta at climate change talks

Premier hopes to pitch to investors and explain her carbon reduction plan

Most Albertans oppose Premier Rachel Notley’s climate change plan: poll

Support a carbon tax in Alberta?

66% oppose

29% support

Plan to replace coal power with renewable energy?

50% oppose

44% support

Should government use money collected from the carbon tax to eliminate deficit and pay off debt?

43% said yes

37% said no

Alberta climate change plan – ‘War on coal’, ‘unfair hit’ or positive step forward?

Alberta’s climate change report released Sunday proposes a broad-based carbon tax of $30 a tonne by 2018 and the phase-out of coal-fired power by 2030. While many politicians, environmental groups and oil producers are supporting the plan, one policy analyst called it a “declaration of war on coal.” The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) denounced the proposal as an “unfair hit” to families, businesses and rural communities.

“The big loser are consumers; they were hoping for a tax that would hit producers only,” Duane Bratt, chair of the department of economics, justice and policy studies at Mount Royal University, said. “A carbon tax is simple: you’re going to be paying at every gas pump, you’re going to be paying it on home electricity and home heating.”