Ottawa to unveil plan to slash methane pollution from fossil fuel production and landfills, offering flexibility to producers
The Carney government is making good on its promise to tackle climate pollution, announcing new measures to address methane emissions from oil and gas facilities and landfills. The regulations provide flexibility to fossil fuel producers, addressing concerns that the original proposal was too strict.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is a significant contributor to climate change, with its global warming potential being more than 80 times that of carbon dioxide. The new regulations ban methane releases, known as 'venting', and establish an inspection schedule to find and repair leaks. Operators can also design their own approaches, meeting 'methane intensity thresholds' equivalent to leading international standards.
The government's analysis estimates that these regulations will reduce oil and gas production growth by 0.2% between 2025 and 2035, while slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 304 million tonnes. This will result in cleaner air, fewer premature deaths, reduced symptoms among asthmatics, and prevented crop losses due to ozone damage.
The regulations also target landfills, requiring the monitoring and capturing of methane from food, paper, and other organic waste. Between 2026 and 2040, these measures are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 million tonnes.
This announcement marks a shift from the previous government's approach, which focused on removing climate policies. It is a significant step towards Canada's net-zero emissions goal by 2050, with the country already on track to achieve its previous target of a 40-45% methane emissions cut.
However, fossil fuel companies have criticized the regulations as 'excessively prescriptive', calling for more flexibility. The government's analysis estimates the impact on the industry, but the details of the 'methane intensity thresholds' remain unclear.
The author, David Thurton, is a senior reporter in CBC's Parliamentary Bureau, covering environment and energy policy. He invites readers to engage in the discussion, sharing their thoughts and opinions on this controversial topic.
