Editor:
I am a concerned citizen about our climate.
The oil and gas sector is the largest and fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, so we can't meet our critical climate targets without reducing these emissions. We must begin to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels to meet the 2030 and 2050 climate targets necessary for a livable planet.
Oil companies have had years to transform their operations and reduce their emissions but haven't, and their emissions continue to increase.
Record profits from the oil and gas sector are driving up inflation and worsening the affordability crisis. To make things worse, while everyday citizens are working to lower emissions to fight climate change, oil and gas companies are asking for more taxpayers' money in the forms of billions in subsidies to lower their emissions. It's up to all sectors of society to lower their emissions, especially the sectors that have the wealth to pay their fair share.
Canada continues to use taxpayers' dollars to subsidize and finance the oil and gas sector despite its obscene profits, which have increased by 1,000 per cent in Canada since 2019.
Renewable energy prices are more stable and predictable than oil and gas prices. If we want energy security, reliability and affordability, renewables are the way forward. If done well, shifting to clean, renewable electricity will bring well-paid, skilled jobs and more stability and security in a global market that is transitioning away from fossil fuels.
With sufficient investments in infrastructure and energy efficiency, Canada has the renewable energy resources to meet all our energy needs.
Putting a cap on emissions from oil and gas will be a critical test for the federal government — and a defining moment for Prime Minister Trudeau's legacy on climate change.
Ian Dewar McPherson
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