Alberta on track to hit methane reduction goals
Methane emissions in the Canadian province of Alberta fell by about 34% between 2014 and 2020, a progress report released by the government on January 26 shows, putting the province on track to hit its goal of a 45% reduction in emissions from 2014 levels by 2025.
“Alberta is making remarkable headway on cutting methane emissions through our real-world approach and strong provincial requirements,” environment and parks minister Jason Nixon said. “By focusing on tangible results, Alberta is reducing methane in our atmosphere while increasing natural gas production and the societal benefits that come from growing our resources.”
Investing in technology, innovation and scientific research are central to Alberta’s methane emissions reduction efforts, and a number of programmes are helping the oil and gas sector improve its methane monitoring and management work. Among these is the Baseline and Reduction Opportunity Assessment Program, which recently had its funding bumped C$5mn by the provincial government, to C$15mn.
Overall, Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund, supported by carbon levies paid by the province’s largest emitters, has committed C$57mn to methane reduction programmes.
“Alberta’s methane emissions mitigation performance has been driven by a combination of regulation, carbon markets and funding programmes,” said Jackson Hegland, executive director of the Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance. “These initiatives dramatically improve data systems, which in turn inform project decisions. Further, while investment in emerging technology continues, our energy sector is already supported by a suite of readily available clean technologies and service providers.”
Alberta has been managing its methane emissions under its own rules since 2020, when an equivalency agreement was reached with federal officials. Applying the province’s rules instead of those imposed by Ottawa, the government said, reduces both red tape and costs to the industry.
The report, a requirement under the equivalency agreement, shows methane emissions in the province were reduced to about 16mn metric tons of CO2equivalent (mtCO2e) in 2020 from 25mn mtCO2e in 2014. By 2025, methane emissions are forecast to fall to about 11mn mtCO2e, below the targeted level of 14mn mtCO2e.
“Alberta’s energy industry continues to be a leader in emissions reductions while also striving to meet growing global demand for responsibly produced and reliable energy,” Alberta energy minister Sonya Savage said. “These results show how seriously the sector takes emission reductions and how a combination of technology, innovation and collaboration will help our province and all of Canada meet its climate goals.”