energy demands
Canada has an enormous wealth of energy resources; this is and will remain a key element of our prosperity and geopolitical advantage. However, this wealth has made us complacent. It has masked major vulnerabilities. Canada’s energy sector faces growing concerns about the environmental effects of energy production and use. Canada’s energy demand is projected to increase by 34% by 2025. The impact of energy industries on land, water and air quality, and perhaps most notably, climate change from the emission of Greenhouse gases (GHGs), are of increasing importance to Canadians.

global challenges
We face several significant global interlocking challenges: to meet our energy needs (and those of developing countries) while also stemming the recent trend of GHG emissions growth, and to sustain economic growth in developed regions. Canada can contribute on all counts. Power generation and transport together account for over 60% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The energy we produce (and use) must contain progressively less carbon in each unit of energy consumed. And we must use this energy more efficiently.

sustainable energy
Our global energy system will need to shift from its present trajectory. A sustainable energy system should meet humanity’s essential energy needs indefinitely, cleanly and at a reasonable cost. As global energy demands intensify, increasingly important policy measures will be needed to assure the detoxification of our global energy system. This section provides an overview of the various possibilities for deep GHG emissions reductions, while maintaining (or improving) our supply of energy and way of life.

action required
If no action is taken, global GHG emissions will double by 2050 in line with energy use. The goal must be to stabilize (and reduce) global GHG levels through sustainable long-term emissions reductions. The reductions can be achieved using a mixture of existing and emerging technologies.

strategies
We support an inclusive approach that recognizes differing starting points, perspectives, priorities and solutions. These include innovation to cut carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, for example capturing and storing the carbon dioxide generated at power stations. Other strategies include significantly increasing the fuel economy of motor vehicles, increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and radically increasing wind and solar capacity. Governments and businesses need to work together to create a policy framework that drives economic progress and provides energy security at the same time as delivering significant emissions reductions.