Abandoning net-zero emissions targets among policy proposals at UCP AGM
CBC
United Conservative Party members have proposed a resolution that would see the party take the stance of removing the designation of CO2 as a pollutant and abandoning net-zero targets in Alberta.
The UCP's annual general meeting is set to take place Nov. 1-2, in Red Deer, Alta., where party members will debate and vote on this and dozens of other policy and governance resolutions.
MLAs Glenn van Dijken and Jason Stephan put the resolution forward. If passed, the resolution is not binding.
The CBC reached out to the UCP, Premier Danielle Smith and both van Dijken and Stephan for comment, but did not hear back.
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Andrew Leach, professor of economics and law at the University of Alberta, said the way the policy is written is "blatant[ly] anti-scientific."
"This would put the province at odds with almost every global government and even every major oil and gas company in terms of their position on the science of climate change," Leach said in an interview Saturday.
"This, as a broader public position, could be very damaging for Alberta."
The policy would ask the Alberta government to "recognize the importance of CO2 to life and Alberta's prosperity" by implementing these measures:
Leach said if the policy passes, it's indicative of where a "significant" share of the active members of the party land on this particular issue.
"It really does speak to maybe how much pressure she's under from a particular wing or particular set of her party to, you know, not only make good policy, but in this case make no policy and push back even globally against against the science of climate change," Leach said.
Josef Schachter, president of Schachter Energy Research, told CBC the industry is pro-climate and works to make the energy as clean as it can be.
"The industry has been very good cutting back the use of diesel and methane emissions, carbon capture, they're very active on that side," Schachter said.
"The industry should be given credit."
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