A Letter to Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

By Evelyn MANG

Dear Prime Minister Mark Carney, 

I am writing to urge you to take strong climate action by increasing renewable energy production in Canada to displace fossil fuels. The oil and gas industry is responsible for 31% of Canada’s emissions, as of 2023. This burdens our country as it makes us fall far short of our climate pledges, such as the Paris Agreement, and is mostly exported to other countries, with the United States being the largest importer of Canadian oil. Overall, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have decreased by 8.5% from 2005 levels, as of 2023, largely due to Canada’s phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation, which decreased electricity emissions by 58% from 2005 to 2023. In contrast, during this period, emissions from the oil and gas sector rose by 7%, offsetting emission reductions. Canada’s official climate goals state that they intend to lower their GHG emissions by 40% to 45% of 2005 levels by 2030, a goal that is seriously hindered by the growth of oil and gas. 

The highly polluting oil and gas industry has largely proliferated under the argument that its profits are needed to support the Canadian economy and finance a transition to greener forms of energy. However, with recent American tariffs imposed on Canadian imports, including on energy, continuing to support an oil and gas industry that is dependent on exports to the United States puts Canada in an economically precarious position. Canada should move away from the oil and gas industry to protect our environment, but also to detach ourselves from an ally and source of income that is increasingly unreliable. 

With a large landmass and a small population, Canada can provide enough power for its citizens’ demand with just domestic renewable energy. Hydroelectric power is currently the most potent source of renewable energy in Canada, powering 60% of all domestic electricity. Further investment in hydropower from unutilized tidal sites would result in more renewable energy that could displace harmful fossil fuels. In addition to increasing the capacity of hydroelectric power, Canada also has great potential for generating large amounts of energy through onshore and offshore wind, as well as other methods such as solar farming. For example, Canada has the longest coastline in the world, giving our country immense potential for offshore wind energy. 

Canadian oil and gas are dangerous and increasingly unreliable forms of energy that are predominant in Canada. Out of all G20 countries, Canada gives the most subsidies to oil and gas and the least to renewable energy projects. Between 2018 and 2020, an average of $11 billion USD per year was given to oil and gas projects through subsidies, over 14 times the $764 million USD given to renewable energy per year. The Canadian government must rapidly increase investments in renewable energy while divesting from the oil and gas sector to ensure that Canada meets its climate pledges and maintains a safe and secure future. 

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