Canadian Gas Association Negotiates Emissions Deal with Ottawa

As the world's environmental leaders gather in Berlin to discuss how to meet the ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the turn of the century, a second national industry group has negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the Canadian government to cut emissions voluntarily. The Canadian Gas Association, representing pipelines, natural gas distributors, and industrial gas burners, has agreed to take voluntary action to reduce methane, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions. In return, the association is pushing for the federal government to expand its use of gas by purchasing more vehicles and equipment that burn the fuel, which would help to reduce emissions more efficiently.

Key Takeaways:

• The Canadian Gas Association has negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the Canadian government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions voluntarily.
• The association has promised to take action to cut emissions of methane, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide.
• The deal is similar to an agreement signed in January between Ottawa and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
• Despite the deal, the association's members need more time than proposed to show they can cut greenhouse gas emissions.
• The association is pushing for the federal government to expand its use of gas by purchasing more vehicles and equipment that burn the fuel more efficiently.
• The Canadian Gas Association has approximately 190 members who explore for and produce oil and gas.
• The association's president, Gerry Doucet, is concerned that Canada may agree to more ambitious emissions targets in Berlin.

Statistics:

• The Canadian Gas Association has approximately 190 members who explore for and produce oil and gas.
• The association's members have promised to reduce emissions of methane, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide.
• The federal government has agreed to purchase more vehicles and equipment that burn gas more efficiently.
• The agreement is similar to a deal signed in January between Ottawa and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

Sources:

• Canadian Gas Association
• Gerry Doucet, President, Canadian Gas Association
• "Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers"
• Article, "World leaders to meet in Berlin to discuss emissions targets," The Globe and Mail, p. 6.