FAQ-Climate Change-Albertans and Climate Change

The climate is changing. Our planet is warming at a rate unprecedented in our recorded history. Since the beginning of the Industrial Age (around 300 years ago), many human activities have involved the burning of fossil fuels. The use of coal to power engines and heat homes released pollutants as well as carbon dioxide, into the air. Since the 1700s, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 25 % and most of this increase can be attributed to human activities. Each year, human activities throughout the world add more than seven billion tonnes of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.

What is Alberta’s plan for addressing climate change?

In January 2008, the Alberta government released Alberta's new Climate Change Strategy. The new approach builds on Alberta's 2002 climate change action plan, taking the next step to ensure our province remains at the forefront of addressing this global environmental issue. The strategy takes action on three fronts: Implementing carbon capture and storage; Greening energy production; and Conserving and using energy efficiently. To learn more visit www.environment.alberta.ca.

What legislation exists in Alberta on climate change?

As part of its efforts to address climate change, the Government of Alberta introduced legislation to address greenhouse gas emissions in the province: the Climate Change and Emissions Management Act.The Act applies to all industrial facilities that emit 100,000 tonnes or more of greenhouse gases a year. Such facilities account for about 70 per cent of Alberta’s industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

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