TORONTO — Rachel Doran, executive director at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the federal government’s updated methane regulations.
“Implementing strong but flexible methane regulations on oil and gas producers and landfills is a no-brainer. Methane is a potent, climate-change-causing greenhouse gas, and such regulations represent a highly targeted and cost-effective tool for bringing down these critical emissions.
“Today’s announcement from the federal government of updated methane regulations is an important and common sense step to begin actioning Canada’s carbon competitiveness strategy.
“In addition to enhancing Canadian economic competitiveness, the regulations can make a real and meaningful difference when it comes to combating the near-term impacts of climate change—at a low cost to producers. B.C., which has its own regulations already in place, has seen a 51% decrease in methane emissions from its oil and gas sector as of 2023, exceeding its 2025 target of 45% two years early.
“However, it is disappointing that the recent MOU between Alberta and the federal government delayed ambition on what has often been described as the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of climate policy’. In any forthcoming discussions for equivalency agreements with provinces, it is important that this clear win for emissions reductions and competitiveness is not diluted.
“It will be crucial that the federal government follow through with implementing these regulations in the coming months in a way that will preserve the level of ambition put forward today.”