Canada 47
significantly larger and are likely to reside in Alberta’s oil sands. Extracting crude
bitumen, or synthetic crude oil, from the oil sands generates significant GHGs and
other polluting emissions (methane, sulphur, aromatics) that has led to damaging
environmental and health impacts. Historically, developing the oil sands and
protecting the environment have been a challenge for policymakers and industry
representatives (Chastko, 2000). After World War II, the oil and gas sector
became the dominant economic industry in the province, and by the 1970s this
industry accounted for 40% of the province’s income. The rapid growth of the
sector in the twenty- first century has also influenced politics since actions towards
regulation of the industry could be perceived as detrimental to the economic
progress of the province (Finkel, 2000). Today, as part of the Paris Agreement,
Canada has agreed to decrease GHG emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030,
mainly by applying regulatory measures to change the transportation and
electricity sectors, control landfill emissions, and promote clean energy
technologies (Government of Canada, 2017). To ensure a successful
implementation of different lower- carbon policies, it is critical for policymakers to
account for socio- economic effects and social acceptance. Particular attention is
needed to understand the needs and interests of the communities most vulnerable
to the impacts of the Alberta oil sands production.
Oil sands companies claim that sustainability is an issue of importance in the
sector. The industry has been making efforts to address the problem by
developing new technologies to cut GHGs. From the technical perspective,
sustainability is approached by air pollution monitoring, decreasing water usage,
optimising existing processes, and land reclamation. The main oil sand
producers have teams dedicated to sustainability issues. Presently, interactions
with neighbouring communities and development programmes are included as
part of their sustainability strategies. Although technical concepts of
sustainability are being applied in the sector, many environmental degradation
issues continue to persist. Decreased flow in the Athabasca River, increasing air
pollution (claimed to be associated with increasing incidences of disease among
the local population), shrinking caribou and moose ranges, and the
disappearance of certain animal species are all a result of decades of resource
development in the northern Alberta boreal forest (Tenenbaum, 2009;
McLachlan, 2014; Parajulee and Wania, 2014; Russell, Pendlebury, and Ronson,
2016; Harner et al., 2018).
The perspectives and interests of various sub- national groups most impacted
by climate action and policies are not currently reflected in international and
regional climate policies, such as the UN’s 1.5–2.0°C target, Canada’s
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and the Alberta Climate
Leadership Plan. The exclusion of different perspectives leads to a roadmap that
is disconnected from local realities and can threaten the implementation of
climate change actions. The Paris Agreement specifically called to respect,
promote, and consider the rights of local communities including Indigenous
peoples among others. Indeed, pathways developed from views from Indigenous
or local communities, in which generations of knowledge are embedded, can
significantly larger and are likely to reside in Alberta’s oil sands. Extracting crude
bitumen, or synthetic crude oil, from the oil sands generates significant GHGs and
other polluting emissions (methane, sulphur, aromatics) that has led to damaging
environmental and health impacts. Historically, developing the oil sands and
protecting the environment have been a challenge for policymakers and industry
representatives (Chastko, 2000). After World War II, the oil and gas sector
became the dominant economic industry in the province, and by the 1970s this
industry accounted for 40% of the province’s income. The rapid growth of the
sector in the twenty- first century has also influenced politics since actions towards
regulation of the industry could be perceived as detrimental to the economic
progress of the province (Finkel, 2000). Today, as part of the Paris Agreement,
Canada has agreed to decrease GHG emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030,
mainly by applying regulatory measures to change the transportation and
electricity sectors, control landfill emissions, and promote clean energy
technologies (Government of Canada, 2017). To ensure a successful
implementation of different lower- carbon policies, it is critical for policymakers to
account for socio- economic effects and social acceptance. Particular attention is
needed to understand the needs and interests of the communities most vulnerable
to the impacts of the Alberta oil sands production.
Oil sands companies claim that sustainability is an issue of importance in the
sector. The industry has been making efforts to address the problem by
developing new technologies to cut GHGs. From the technical perspective,
sustainability is approached by air pollution monitoring, decreasing water usage,
optimising existing processes, and land reclamation. The main oil sand
producers have teams dedicated to sustainability issues. Presently, interactions
with neighbouring communities and development programmes are included as
part of their sustainability strategies. Although technical concepts of
sustainability are being applied in the sector, many environmental degradation
issues continue to persist. Decreased flow in the Athabasca River, increasing air
pollution (claimed to be associated with increasing incidences of disease among
the local population), shrinking caribou and moose ranges, and the
disappearance of certain animal species are all a result of decades of resource
development in the northern Alberta boreal forest (Tenenbaum, 2009;
McLachlan, 2014; Parajulee and Wania, 2014; Russell, Pendlebury, and Ronson,
2016; Harner et al., 2018).
The perspectives and interests of various sub- national groups most impacted
by climate action and policies are not currently reflected in international and
regional climate policies, such as the UN’s 1.5–2.0°C target, Canada’s
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and the Alberta Climate
Leadership Plan. The exclusion of different perspectives leads to a roadmap that
is disconnected from local realities and can threaten the implementation of
climate change actions. The Paris Agreement specifically called to respect,
promote, and consider the rights of local communities including Indigenous
peoples among others. Indeed, pathways developed from views from Indigenous
or local communities, in which generations of knowledge are embedded, can