Alberta seeking feedback on climate change proposal

Alberta Environment and Parks is inviting Albertans to go online or attend public sessions to share ideas on how the province can do its part to address the global issue of climate change.

“Climate change is a threat we all face, affecting everything from our health, food production, and fresh water, to biodiversity and our economy,” said Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, in a press release issued Friday. “Over the coming weeks, all Albertans will have an opportunity to contribute to their province’s new plan to address this pressing global issue here at home.”

The climate change advisory panel, selected by Phillips and chaired by Dr. Andrew Leach, associate professor and academic director of energy programs at the University of Alberta School of Business, includes “members with distinct skills, valuable networks and a strong understanding of Alberta’s unique economic, environmental and social circumstances,” Alberta Environment and Parks said in the release.

In addition to public sessions beginning the week of Aug. 24, and the online survey, the panel will also hear from industry, municipalities, academics, First Nations and Métis communities. A discussion guide, available at http://www.alberta.ca/albertacode/images/Climate-Leadership-Discussion-Document.pdf, provides an outline of key issues and areas the panel will explore and investigate. In particular, the guide details the effects of climate change; Alberta’s vision and challenges (Alberta produced 37% of Canada’s emissions in 2013); the province’s emissions profile for oil and gas, electricity, transportation, buildings and houses, other industrial emitters, manufacturing and construction, and agriculture, forestry and waste; and provides next steps. [click image below to enlarge]

Besides Dr. Leach as chair, the panel also includes: Gord Lambert, president and chief collaboration officer of GRL Collaboration for Sustainability and formerly of Suncor Energy; Linda Coady, chief sustainability officer with Enbridge Inc.; Stephanie Cairns, principal of Wrangellia Consulting, and Pembina Institute board member, and International Institute for Sustainable Development board member, and; Angela Adams, director of education, Unifor, and trustee, Fort McMurray Public School District.

At the end of the process, the panel will provide advice to government to help form the foundation of Alberta’s new proposal to address climate change, which will be in place in time for the COP21 Sustainable Innovation Forum 2015 in Paris in December, the release said.