No free pass for oil and gas: pass a strong emissions cap!

6,824 actions

goal: 9,000

Inside intel tells us that the federal government is considering giving oil and gas — the worst polluting sector in Canada — a free pass: A lower emissions reduction target than the national goal. [1,2]

But it’s not over. We heard the emissions target will be revealed before a global climate conference on November 30, and that it’s critical every Cabinet Minister hears from us before then — every single one of them has a say in the ambition of the final target.

If Cabinet Ministers think this issue is too boring and technical for most people to recognize its importance, they’ve got another thing coming. Thousands of messages from Canadians demanding an emissions cap that actually holds oil companies to account could let them know we’re watching — and won’t forgive them for putting CEO profit before people.

Send an urgent letter to all 38 Cabinet Ministers now.

Subject

Dear Cabinet Ministers,

I’m writing in regard to the upcoming release of the framework to place a cap on emissions from the oil & gas sector in Canada. I’m very concerned that the cap will not hold oil and gas companies accountable for their fair share of emissions.

This was a record-breaking year for wildfires in Canada, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and homes lost. Studies linked the worsening of North American wildfires to the emissions of oil & gas companies, including major companies in Canada like Cenovus, Conoco Phillips, Suncor, and Repsol, to name a few.

These companies have engaged in relentless lobbying of key federal Ministries, pushing to delay and weaken the policy. Most recently, Suncor CEO Rich Kruger was summoned to testify to the Natural Resources Parliamentary Committee for comments he made about walking back action on climate change, and instead focusing on oil sands in order to turn a profit. Suncor made $9.1 billion in 2022, yet still laid off 1500 workers this year.

Without regulation, it’s evidently clear that Canadian oil and gas companies will put profit before climate, jobs, and the safety of Canadians.

I urge you to protect the safety and prosperity of our communities now and in the future, and not write this policy to protect the profits of a few oil and gas CEOs. Over the last two years, people in Canada have taken hundreds of thousands of actions engaging their MP on the topic of the emissions cap, including signing petitions, writing letters, sending postcards, and even meeting with MPs. Poll after poll shows the majority of Canadians want the oil sector to do their fair share of reducing emissions — even in oil-producing provinces like Alberta.

The oil and gas emissions cap must:
 
1. Reduce emissions immediately: the oil and gas industry must reduce emissions significantly by 2025 and reduce its emissions by at least 40-45% by 2030.

2. Ensure tools of compliance, enforceability and accountability are implemented immediately with the cap. There must be no loopholes and strict trading rules to ensure that the oil and gas industry is held accountable for truly capping emissions.
 
3. Include all emissions from the production and use of oil and gas. All oil and gas activities and facilities in Canada, including pipelines, refineries and liquefied natural gas export facilities, should be covered by the cap.
 
4. Do not cave to the oil and gas lobbying efforts. The industry is beholden to shareholders and profit margins. As the government, your responsibility is to the people and the planet.

5. The cap should not undermine Canada’s commitment to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. 
 
The emissions cap should be written for the best interests of Canadians — not oil and gas companies. If the emissions cap is anything less than a 40% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2030, it is an affront to the majority of people in Canada who want a fair cap. The worst polluting sector should not be held to a lower standard than the national goal.

The future of our communities and the planet is at stake — please implement an ambitious and effective emissions cap policy.

Sincerely,

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No free pass for oil and gas: pass a strong emissions cap!

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