Abandoning net-zero emissions targets among policy proposals at UCP AGM

United Conservative Party members have proposed a resolution that would see the party take the stance of removing the designation of CO2 as a pollutant and abandoning net-zero targets in Alberta. 

The UCP's annual general meeting is set to take place Nov. 1-2, in Red Deer, Alta., where party members will debate and vote on this and dozens of other policy and governance resolutions.

Constituency associations from Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock and Red Deer South put the resolution forward. If passed, the resolution is not binding. 

"United Conservative members have ranked the policy resolutions that matter to them. As leader, I respect the grassroots party process and look forward to the debate in November," Premier Danielle Smith said in an emailed statement.

The CBC reached out to the constituency offices in both ridings, the UCP, and the MLAs for both ridings, but did not hear back. 

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Andrew Leach, professor of economics and law at the University of Alberta, said the way the policy is written is "blatant[ly] anti-scientific."

"This would put the province at odds with almost every global government and even every major oil and gas company in terms of their position on the science of climate change," Leach said in an interview Saturday. 

"This, as a broader public position, could be very damaging for Alberta."

The policy would ask the Alberta government to "recognize the importance of CO2 to life and Alberta's prosperity" by implementing these measures:

• Abandoning "net-zero" targets.
• Removing the designation of CO2 as a pollutant.
• Recognize that CO2 is a foundational nutrient for all life on Earth.

Leach said if the policy passes, it's indicative of where a "significant" share of the active members of the party land on this particular issue.

"It really does speak to maybe how much pressure she's under from a particular wing or particular set of her party to, you know, not only make good policy, but in this case make no policy and push back even globally against against the science of climate change," Leach said. 

Josef Schachter, president of Schachter Energy Research, told CBC the industry is pro-climate and works to make the energy as clean as it can be. 

"The industry has been very good cutting back the use of diesel and methane emissions, carbon capture, they're very active on that side," Schachter said. 

"The industry should be given credit."

Schachter said that all levels of government have to be on the same page and rules have to be made clear, so that industry across the country can conduct business accordingly. 

"Unless they're all at the table with something that everybody agrees to and the standards are made correct, then the companies know how they can react and how they can move forward," he said. 

"I would say that the problems are more political than economic."

Policy rationale

"CO2 is a nutrient foundational for all life on earth. The carbon cycle is a biological necessity. CO2 is presently at around 420 ppm, near the lowest level in over 1,000 years," part of the policy's rationale reads.

Leach said that while the first part of this is correct but out of context, the last part is completely false. 

"I think we're at about the highest levels right now in roughly 3 million years," he said. 

"The big concern is not just the level, it's the rate of change."

Leach said the front end of the statement is akin to someone going on the news after something like the Calgary floods and saying, "We all rely on water, it's essential."

He said no one would dispute the fact that the rivers in and near Calgary are vitally important to the area for many reasons. 

"That much water, at that point in time, in that location is a massive problem, and is a life-threatening emergency for many people and a health and welfare issue for many more people," he said. 

"That's the case with the disruptions we're bringing to the carbon cycle as well."