In the glaring Dubai sun and under the international spotlight, the COP28 climate conference became the stage for a peculiar Canadian drama: the wildly different agendas of Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith and Federal Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault.
While Guilbeault announced Canada’s ambitious goal to slash methane emissions by 75% within six years, Smith branded the target as “dangerous and unconstitutional” in an almost theatrical opposition.
Her personal attack on Guilbeault, suggesting he was courting “post-office career” glory, added a tinge of melodrama to the proceedings.
This was Smith’s opening act, and she played it with the gusto of a tragic-comedy of Shakespearean proportions.
But Smith wasn’t in Dubai just to spar for the media with Guilbeault.
She had a bigger act in her playbook.
In what seemed more like a scene from a satirical play, she used COP28 as a pulpit to rally the anti-COP folks back home.
With declarations of using “every tool at our disposal” against federal clean energy regulations, Smith’s performance echoed a refrain familiar to Canadians but now highlighted on a global stage.
She seemed more focused on selling foreign energy investment in Alberta than joining in trying to figure out how to limit the impacts of a warming planet.
Her Pitch?
Alberta’s is selling carbon capture technology big time.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCUS) is an ambitious, expensive, experimental approach to limiting the pollution causing global warming. But Smith is placing all bets on the unproven technology without a ‘plan B’ if CCUS fails.
Why the gamble?
Carbon capture appeals to the oil industry (and Smith) because it allows companies to continue to ramp up oil and gas production, all while magically storing the carbon pollution under our pristine landscape, where they claim it will safely reside for all time.
Hmmm… haven’t we been down this road before with other ‘hide it underground’ pollution solutions that, in the end, did not work?
Smith’s delegation, heavy on energy-industry representation, seemed less about environmental stewardship and more a sales pitch for Alberta’s fossil fuel industry under the guise of ‘green energy.’
It’s worth noting that the media are reporting that Smith’s government is paying one-third of the 100-strong Alberta delegation’s travel expenses out of our hard-earned tax dollars.
Alberta Receives Award at COP28
Albertans like to win awards, especially ones that portray us as global leaders. But there are some things we probably don’t want to be awarded for.
Alberta received the dubious honour of the “Fossil of the Day” award from the Climate Action Network because of the Alberta delegation’s efforts at promoting fossil fuels,
This award, a title usually reserved for nations, was given to Alberta because of Smith’s 7-month ban on large-scale wind and solar projects and her $8-million advertising blitz to spread misinformation about upcoming federal regulations that would let Canada reach 100% clean electricity by 2030.
It’s not really an honour worth bragging about.
Given the fires and smoke that put Alberta communities in harm’s way this summer, you would expect our Premier to at least pretend to be taking action to address the growing crisis. Instead, her social media feed mainly was photo-ops of her top-level meetings with movers and shakers in the pro-oil and gas contingent.
The Climax of Smith’s COP28 Saga?
Smith trotted out Alberta’s record in reducing methane emissions, all while conveniently omitting that her NDP “frienemy,” Rachel Notley, initiated the province’s methane-reduction plan.
Smith’s selective memory added a touch of dramatic irony, given Notley’s widely celebrated role in COP21 for her climate-change strategy, which Smith and her predecessor, Jason Kenney, have done much to dismantle.
In contrast, Federal Environment Guilbeault was at COP28 to showcase Canada’s renewed commitment to strong climate action despite the federal government’s history of missed targets.
This stark contrast in agendas between Smith and Guilbeault at COP28 highlighted the complex picture of Canada’s climate politics.
In keeping with her history of personal attacks and bully tactics, Smith’s performance, disguised as a trade mission agenda, offered a starkly ironic counter-narrative to Canada’s intended message of serious climate action.
Unfortunately, Smith’s COP28 appearance seemed less about ensuring Alberta does its part to prepare for a sustainable future and more about defending our petro-province status.
