Environmental Groups, Indigenous Leaders and Health Organizations Call on Federal Government to Stop Using Public Funds for Oil Industry’s Risky Carbon Capture Project
Statement by Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager, Environmental Defence
Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – Forty-nine environmental, health and community organizations have sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet urging the federal government to reject any new public funding for the Pathways Alliance’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.
The Pathways CCS project seeks $16.5 billion in government support while delivering minimal climate benefits and extending the lifeline of Canada’s most polluting industry. The Pathways Alliance, a conglomerate of six wealthy oil sands companies, has claimed this project would only reduce oil and gas emissions by 10-12 megatonnes by 2030, representing only five percent of current oil and gas emissions.
“These oil sands companies are some of the wealthiest companies in Canada and yet are asking Canadians to take on the risk of a project that would cost billions and do little to reduce emissions,” said Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager at Environmental Defence. “If Pathways really believed this project would deliver, they’d put their own money on the line. The fact they’re asking taxpayers to cover the costs shows they lack confidence in it.”
Carbon capture and storage is an expensive and ineffective technology that risks locking Canadians into higher costs, stranded assets, and continued dependence on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the world is accelerating towards clean energy and electrification.
Furthermore, the Pathways CCS project will intrude on Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 territories without obtaining free, prior and informed consent from affected First Nations, including but not limited to the traditional territories of the Cold Lake First Nations, Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Miskew Cree, Fort McKay, Fort McMurray, and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations.
The signatories call on Prime Minister Carney and the federal government to ensure that any projects designated “nation-building” are subject to Canada’s full suite of environmental laws and aligned with international legal obligations, including the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that fossil fuel subsidies may constitute an “internationally wrongful act”.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
– 30 –
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
