Alberta’s climate change regulations extended
Alberta is extending its four climate change regulations to the end of June 2015 to allow time for the continued thorough analysis of options for its new climate change framework.
“Alberta’s climate change framework is important and will be a continued focus of our government in 2015. We are taking the time to ensure the decisions we make are right for both the environment and Albertans.”
The extensions allow government to explore new approaches and partnership opportunities arising from the recent United Nations climate change conference in Peru, attended by Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Kyle Fawcett. The new framework will be introduced in the new year.
“No one disputes the need to reduce our carbon footprint. Alberta was an early leader with our mandatory emissions reduction targets, our innovation and technology fund and investment in carbon capture and storage. We will remain leaders as we work with our local, provincial, national and international partners to further address climate change.”
The four regulations, previously set to expire on December 31, are the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER), Specified Gas Reporting Regulation (SGRR), Administrative Penalty Regulation, and the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund Administration Regulation.
The SGER sets Alberta’s greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction target from business as usual at 12 per cent. This applies to facilities emitting more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases. It also outlines compliance options.
The SGRR requires facilities emitting more than 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually to report emission levels.
The Administrative Penalty Regulation provides the authority to issue a penalty for compliance breaches under SGER and SGRR.
The Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund Administration Regulation enables the Climate Change Emissions Management Corporation to decide how to administer any money paid to the Corporation.