ACTIVIST CLAIM: In a recently published article, left-leaning media outlet The Tyee cites a 31-year-old study to make a case against carbon tech.
THE FACTS: Citing a 31-year-old study is bad journalism. Modern studies clearly prove that carbon tech is a strong solution to reduce emissions.
THE SOURCES:
‘Carbon Capture’ Is No Fix. Big Oil’s Known for Decades
Here are some facts and sources to have a reasoned conversation about carbon tech:
- The author cites a report from Imperial oil about carbon tech from 1991. This is just bad journalism as there have been more up to date studies that showcase technological advancements in Carbon Tech.
https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/research/ - A recent report from a global consulting firm, Wood Mackenzie, shows Canada is leading in carbon reduction tech as well. If all proposed projects came online, they could reduce up to 115 million tonnes of CO2, or 60% of Canada’s 2030 goal of 200 million tonnes reduced. This helps improve our emissions even more.
https://www.mining.com/canada-a-global-leader-in-carbon-capture-report/
https://www.woodmac.com/reports/energy-markets-canadian-carbon-capture-credentials-504389 - According to the U.N.’s International Panel on Climate Change, carbon tech solutions will capture almost as many emissions as renewables will reduce by the end of the century.
https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/srccs_chapter8-1.pdf - The International Energy Agency notes that when oil and gas are produced with carbon tech it can be net-zero or even carbon negative.
https://www.iea.org/commentaries/can-co2-eor-really-provide-carbon-negative-oil - Carbon tech is an emerging market that will help reduce emissions across the entire energy system. This is expected to become a trillion-dollar global market that activists will ignore as an opportunity for Canada.
https://thunderbird.asu.edu/sites/default/files/khagram-gcr-market-report-2020_0.pdf
Stories that get it right
Assessing the future use of carbon capture, utilization and storage in Canada’s oil and gas sector
Canada’s oil and gas sector has been an early innovator and adaptor of CCUS. The potential for using CCUS in emissions reduction is most significant in Western Canada, though there is also an opportunity to use it in Ontario and Quebec.
According to the IEA, 21 CCUS projects capture 40 Mt of CO2 globally each year (IEA, 2021a). Most CCUS projects operate in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Over 140 CCS projects could be operational globally by 2025, capturing at least 145 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of carbon dioxide emissions.
