Andrew Potter: Finally, the West goes all-in on Ukraine

Last week, the Munich security conference was dominated by talk of the Russian invasion, with Zelenskyy appearing by video conference https://www.cbsnews.com/news/munich-security-conference-ukraine-military-aid-western-allies/ to plead with the allies to speed up the delivery of all promised aid.

Jets might soon be coming now. But it was last Monday, when Joe Biden suddenly showed up in Kyiv, that the fires to burn the boats were well and truly lit. The 80-year-old U.S. president made an unprecedented 10-hour train trip from Poland to Kyiv into a war zone, where he walked the streets with Zelenskyy, and in a speech https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-biden-f00af220669457d5ba07127c7e57a27b at Mariinsky Palace, he nailed America’s colours to the Ukrainian mast: “Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.”

What this means is that, incrementally but now undeniably, the West has gone all-in on Ukraine. It is not enough now that Russia “not win”, nor that Ukraine “not lose”; it is now clear that nothing less than a clear, undeniable victory of Ukraine is acceptable, on terms Ukraine itself has set.

So what took us long to clue in to what we are up against? Why, after a year of constant war, after the atrocities of Bucha and Kramatorsk and Mariupol have been repeated in town after town, has the West been so slow to open its hearts, its treasury, and its armouries?

Some, most obviously Germany but also France and others, simply didn’t want to cut off the possibility of a return to business as usual with Russia, out of self-interest, cravenness, or worse. Others, such as Canada, are just not serious countries and don’t really know what it would mean to take something like this seriously (and don’t think people haven’t noticed https://twitter.com/EHunterChristie/status/1628051865706405890). |Read more https://theline.substack.com/p/andrew-potter-finally-the-west-goes?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email|
#cdnpoli #politics #ukraine #war #unification #russia

Carbon capture too expensive, takes too long to build: Report

CALGARY — By betting it can solve its emissions problem with carbon capture and storage, Canada’s oil and gas industry risks saddling itself with expensive stranded assets, a new report argues.

The report, released Thursday by the International Institute for Sustainable Development — a Winnipeg-based think-tank that focuses on climate and sustainable resource development — concludes carbon capture and storage technology costs too much and takes too long to build to have any hope of helping industry meet Canada’s 2030 emissions reductions target.

Calling the technology “expensive, energy intensive (and) unproven at scale,” the report urges the federal government not to put any more public money into the oil and gas industry for carbon capture deployment. |Read more https://www.albertaprimetimes.com/beyond-local/carbon-capture-too-expensive-takes-too-long-to-build-report-6519040?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email|
#abpoli #CCS #unproven #expensive #CarbonCapture

Alberta to pilot oil and gas royalty breaks for legally required well cleanup

EDMONTON – The Alberta government is moving ahead with a plan that would give oil and gas companies a tax break for meeting their legal obligations to clean up old well sites, inviting a select group of landowner organizations to a meeting to discuss a pilot project.

The pilot program, previously known as RStar and now called the Liability Management Incentive Program, would issue $100 million in credits that qualified companies could use to apply against royalties earned from new production. Credits would be earned by cleaning up well sites that have been inactive for at least 20 years.

Opposition New Democrat energy critic Kathleen Ganley said there should be a conversation about the pilot project happening with the public. “They’re taking public money and giving it to oil companies to do work they are already legally obligated to do and they’re doing it at a time of high oil prices,” Ganley said.

Not all landowners groups have been invited to the meeting with Guthrie.

Dwight Popowich of the Polluter Pay Federation said his group made repeated requests to attend the session, but have instead been told to meet with department officials.

“If you happen to be a dissenter of any kind, you definitely won’t be invited,” he said. |Read more https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-to-pilot-oil-and-gas-royalty-breaks-for-legally-required-well-cleanup-1.6265251|
#abpoli #yeg #ucp #theft #money #RstarProgram #smith #landOwners

Albertans Want a Just Transition, Despite Premier’s Grumbling

In early January, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the federal government would soon be unveiling its highly anticipated legislation for a just transition, including a plan for helping workers and communities in the oil and gas sector shift into renewable energy industries like wind, solar, and energy efficiency.

The announcement https://www.theenergymix.com/2023/01/05/wilkinson-promises-just-transition-bill-in-2023/ triggered immediate reaction from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who declared the yet-to-be released bill shortsighted, ill-conceived, and harmful https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/federal-legislation-net-zero-1.6702333 to Albertans. Environment Minister Sonya Savage added that the term “just transition” was offensive https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa-just-transition-alberta-environment-1.6704486 and indicative of the federal government turning its back on the oil and gas industry.

However, EcoAnalytics research suggests the Alberta premier and her minister may be out of step with most Albertans on this matter. In a national survey last April, we asked Canadians, including Albertans, how they felt about a transition off oil and gas and, specifically, what they thought of the government supporting a “just” or “fair” transition that would support oil and gas workers moving into new, less polluting jobs and industries. The survey, conducted by Environics for EcoA, showed that Albertans want a transition just as much as other Canadians. Like other Canadians, they want to see action on this issue, now—as they understand the need to move quickly.

Other qualitative research by EcoA last summer examined perceptions, concerns, and barriers to support for a transition to renewable energy. The online focus groups asked participants to discuss the impact on communities of a cap on oil and gas sector emissions and a clean electricity grid. While many felt Canada can’t afford not to adopt those strategies, there was significant concern and empathy for the communities, families, and regions that will be disproportionately affected by a move away from oil and gas.

The takeaway?

Canadians, including Albertans, do want a fast transition off oil and gas, but support increase greatly if Wilkinson’s bill details the appropriate funding, resources, and support to make sure the process is right for workers, businesses, and communities. |Read more https://www.theenergymix.com/2023/01/23/albertans-want-a-just-transition-despite-premiers-grumbling/|
#abpoli #JustTransition #EcoAnalytics #wilkinson #emissions