IEA urges Canada to use clean power resources to help cut emissions

CALGARY --
Canada, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, wants to provide clear coverage indicators and leverage its ample clear electrical energy sources to sharply lower carbon emissions, the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA) mentioned on Thursday in a assessment of the nation's power insurance policies.

Greater than 80% of Canada's electrical energy provide comes from non-emitting sources, primarily due to its big hydropower sources, however the nation is the world's tenth largest carbon emitter. Nearly all of greenhouse gases come from the oil and fuel sector.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal authorities has pledged to chop carbon output 40% to 45% beneath 2005 ranges by 2030 and attain net-zero emissions by 2050, and launched insurance policies, together with a worth on carbon, to assist get there.

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The IEA assessment of Canada's insurance policies, the primary since 2015, famous the nation's function as a significant producer, client and exporter of power offered "each challenges and alternatives" for reaching its targets. Vitality makes up 10% of Canada's gross home product.

"Canada's efforts to cut back emissions – of each carbon dioxide and methane – from its oil and fuel manufacturing can assist guarantee its continued place as a dependable provider of power to the world," IEA government director Fatih Birol mentioned in a information launch.

To hurry up decarbonization of the oil and fuel sector, the IEA known as for sturdy motion to curb methane emissions and speed up the speed of innovation in power expertise.

Canada is already pursuing innovation in fields together with carbon seize, utilization and storage; clear hydrogen; and small-module nuclear reactors, and the IEA mentioned additional federal help for analysis and growth would assist pace up progress.

The nation ought to improve energy grid interconnections between provinces and territories to assist stability decarbonization efforts throughout the nation, the report added.

It additionally known as for shut coordination between federal, provincial and territorial governments in setting clear targets for power effectivity within the buildings, transport and business sectors.

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  A employee rides a motorcycle at a B.C. Hydro substation in Vancouver, on Friday, April 16, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Darryl Dyck)