MPs: close Big Oil’s loopholes – deliver a bold Emissions Cap without delay.

6,973 actions

goal: 10,000

After 30 years of climate negotiations, there is finally a global political consensus for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.” ¹

It’s historic, but it’s not enough. We need to move faster to reach our climate goals, but politics is finally catching up with science – recognizing that the climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis.²

But there’s a big problem: Canada is lagging behind that global consensus and still expanding fossil fuel production. Our Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, made the long-awaited Emissions Cap framework Canada's flagship policy announcement at COP28. But rather than taking polluters to task for scorching the planet, the draft policy has been tailored to Big Oil's wishlist, not even requiring polluters to adhere to our climate targets.³

It's hypocritical. The least we can ask is for Canada's climate policies to match the science and the global consensus. Will you call on your MP to go to bat for a bolder and better Emissions Cap?

Email your MP for a bolder, better Emissions Cap:

Subject

I’m writing in regard to the federal government’s recent release of their framework to place a cap on emissions from the oil & gas sector in Canada. I’m glad to see the government making progress on this critical policy, and urge you to continue treating it as a political priority.

While I see the framework’s release as worthy of celebration, I’m very concerned that the cap, as currently written, does not hold oil and gas companies accountable for their fair share of emissions.

This was a record-breaking year for wildfires in Canada, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and homes lost. Studies linked the worsening of North American wildfires to the emissions of oil & gas companies, including major companies in Canada like Cenovus, Conoco Phillips, Suncor, and Repsol, to name a few.

These companies have engaged in relentless lobbying of key federal Ministries, pushing to delay and weaken the policy. Most recently, Suncor CEO Rich Kruger was summoned to testify to the Natural Resources Parliamentary Committee for comments he made about walking back action on climate change, and instead focusing on oil sands in order to turn a profit. Suncor made $9.1 billion in 2022, yet still laid off 1500 workers this year.

Without regulation, it’s evidently clear that Canadian oil and gas companies will put profit before climate, jobs, and the safety of Canadians.

I urge you to protect the safety and prosperity of our communities now and in the future, and to fight for the following conditions:

1. Reduce emissions immediately: the oil and gas industry must reduce emissions significantly by 2025 and reduce its emissions by at least 60% by 2030.

2. Ensure tools of compliance, enforceability and accountability are implemented immediately with the cap. There must be no loopholes and strict trading rules to ensure that the oil and gas industry is held accountable for truly capping emissions.
 
3. Include all emissions from the production and use of oil and gas. All oil and gas activities and facilities in Canada, including pipelines, refineries and liquefied natural gas export facilities, should be covered by the cap.
 
4. Do not cave to the oil and gas lobbying efforts. The industry is beholden to shareholders and profit margins. As the government, your responsibility is to the people and the planet.

5. The cap should not undermine Canada’s commitment to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.
 
The emissions cap should be written for the best interests of Canadians — not oil and gas companies. If the emissions cap is anything less than a 60% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2030, it is an affront to the majority of people in Canada who want a fair cap. The worst polluting sector should not be held to a lower standard than the national goal.

The future of our communities and the planet is at stake — please push to implement an ambitious and effective emissions cap policy without delay.

Sincerely,

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MPs: close Big Oil’s loopholes – deliver a bold Emissions Cap without delay.

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