An email being circulated by Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is boasts that a new study concludes that when Alberta specific data is used, upstream greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity numbers of oil sands production pathways are 14 to 35 per cent lower than previously published in Masnadi et al. Emerging technologies assessed in the study can further reduce upstream Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) emissions by 14 to 19 per cent.

A link to download the report leads to the Science Direct website, which is well known for its high credibility in publishing factual peer-reviewed science. With the economy trending towards global warming, it’s very important that the entire planet is on a path to reduce emissions.

An article and report on the Canadian Energy Centre website, published in August, certainly seems to agree with this consensus. Key findings support Alberta’s endeavours to reduce emissions:

• Canada’s emissions intensity has fallen by 30 percent since 2000
• Canada’s emissions intensity is lower than a number of other energy-producing and consuming nations
• Canada’s mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector compares favourably with a number of other industrial sectors in Canada
• Fuel combustion emissions intensity in Canada’s industrial sector is also falling and is comparable with a number of other energy-producing countries
• Oil sands emissions intensity has been falling over the past decade
• Oil sands sector will drive future emissions intensity reductions through 2030]

These are timely reports that are really needed, considering there is a steady run of investors pulling their support out of the oilsands. In October, BNN Bloomberg pointed to five leading Canadian fossils that have lost nearly $100 billion in share value over the last five years, while the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) lists 50 “globally significant financial institutions” that have restricted their involvement with tar sands/oil sands projects.

In December, New York State’s pension announced plans to drop the “riskiest” oil and gas stocks from its massive investment portfolio by 2025.

These are not the only ones — more can be found.

The study on Science Direct was funded by the ERA and Alberta Innovates. “Alberta specific data is used,” implies it was invented in Alberta. Alberta Innovates is funded by the provincial government, just as the Canadian Energy Centre (Kenney’s war room) is. It seems this could all be considered a waste of taxpayer money and resources.

It’s true that operational efficiency improvements, oil sands emissions per barrel have decreased 36% from 2000 to 2018, and GHG emissions from oil and gas production have gone up 23% between 2000 and 2018, largely from increased oil sands production. Lowering the intensity numbers of oil sands per barrel doesn’t help when the technology is used so production can be ramped up. Painting a rosy picture of Alberta’s GHG, isn’t fooling anyone. These numbers need to come down, to levels aligned with our global commitments.

Further proof — just follow the money. It’s leaving.