Canadian energy lobby joins call for COP26 recognition of O&G
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), representing 80% of Canada’s oil and gas production, said November 5 it had joined a global group of energy associations calling on COP26 policy-makers to recognise the necessary role for natural gas and oil to meet global energy demand and the ambitions of the Paris Agreement.
The nine-member consortium, with representatives from Canada, Australia, Africa, Croatia, Mexico, Thailand and India, released a discussion paper at the COP26 gathering in Glasgow outlining joint policy principles, including their commitments to working collaboratively with governments around the world to meet their emissions reduction goals.
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“The continued evolution of the world energy system must maintain access to reliable and affordable energy for the world’s over 7bn people,” the group said in a communique released in Glasgow.
Developed and developing economies alike are facing rising energy insecurity brought on by poorly designed energy and climate policies, it said. Developed nations that once benefitted from stable energy supplies are now facing energy shortages, soaring prices and a lack of infrastructure to access new supplies.
“This is happening as many other countries still experience serious energy poverty without the ability or resources to supply affordable and reliable energy to their populations to meet the most basic of human needs,” the communique said. “These countries are being forced to turn to higher emission sources, as evidenced by the rapid rise of coal demand, to meet their energy needs.”
The consortium is calling on COP26 delegates and signatories to the Paris Agreement to collaborate with the oil and gas industry to achieve Paris goals, which requires increasing, not restricting, access to responsibly produced and lower emission natural gas and oil.
“As we watch nations around the world struggle to provide energy to their citizens, Canada must step up and offer a safe haven for oil and natural gas investment, so our trading partners have access to reliable, affordable and responsibly produced oil and natural gas,” CAPP CEO Tim McMillan said.
Verner Ayukegba, senior vice president of the African Energy Chamber, said the continent of Africa is home to 580mn people who lack access to any kind of electricity – a number that is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade.
“As the cost of energy increases globally, African nations will be left behind in the energy transition should it be asked to undergo a catastrophic rapid transition at a pace foreign to its realities,” he said. “Sustainable development of the continent’s vast natural gas resources is a strong instrument in our continent’s fight against energy poverty.”