Charles Frank from the Calgary Herald wrote an interesting article about carbon, climate change and Alberta. He said a couple things I don’t fully agree with, although I’m sure in an extended discussion we’re in agreement. The majority of his article is right on the money. In a nutshell:
Canada produces slightly more than 2.5 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
That’s right. When it comes to big time emitters we rank . . . oh let’s see, we pretty much don’t rank.
He also wisely points out that:
The U.S. and China produce slightly more than 40 per cent of the world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions. Our production numbers rank light years behind both of those countries and well behind industrial giants such as Russia, India, Japan and Germany.
You’re really going to be surprised as to who makes the top 10 of per-capita emissions.
I think that climate change is an important issue among several important environmental issues. I also know that the vast majority of large oil companies in Alberta are bending over backwards to be green, carbon neutral, or whatever buzzword makes you happy this week. As I’ve mentioned previously, most of them are trying to do good things. The government is not as stupid as it might seem at first glance.
But before you rant about oil sands development ruining Alberta, consider what the BRIC (and the US) are doing to the planet.
