BC Accepts Risk of New West Coast Pipeline in Exchange for Aspirational Emissions Reduction

A new oil pipeline to the West Coast of Canada is contingent on a carbon capture and storage project, according to agreements between the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, and major oil producers. The agreement with Canada, signed in July, states that the pipeline cannot proceed without the Pathways Project, which is not expected to be fully operational until 2045.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) acknowledges that Canada's agreement with Alberta lacks a real enforcement mechanism to ensure the carbon capture and sequestration project is actually built. British Columbia has accepted the risk of the pipeline while Alberta and the oil industry are committed only to work towards the project on a schedule stretching to 2045.

The author argues that this is hostage-taking, not nation-building. He also criticizes the asymmetry in the agreement, where British Columbians are forced to accept another taxpayer-funded pipeline proposal by October while Alberta doesn't have to prove the prerequisite carbon capture and sequestration project is viable until long after the construction starts on the pipeline.

The author notes that the MOU between Canada, Alberta, and the Oil Sands Alliance describes a 'shared objective' for the industry to reduce emissions by six million tonnes by 2035 and has set a 'common goal' to further reduce emissions by 10 million tonnes by 2045. However, he argues that this is just aspirational and does not provide any real commitment from Alberta and the oil industry.