Smith grilled on beliefs over climate change
Possible impact on oilsands worries rivals, green activists
Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith says she doesn’t believe the science supporting the theory of climate change is conclusive.
“We’ve always said the science isn’t settled and we need to continue to monitor the debate,” Smith wrote in a Calgary Herald-edmonton Journal online debate on Monday.
“In the meantime we need to support consumers in making the transition to cleaner fuels.”
The comment dismayed her rivals, environmentalists and energy experts who expressed concern about the impact of Smith’s remarks on Canada’s efforts to convince the world it’s striving to curb greenhouse gases, particularly in the expanding oilsands.
“Danielle, are you seriously denying climate change?” asked Liberal Leader Raj Sherman during the hourlong debate.
Later in the day, Smith expanded on her views while on the campaign trail.
“I think we have all been watching the debate as to the extent to which man-made emissions impact climate change. I think there are a lot of scientists with a variety of different views.”
Asked last week if she believed in climate change, Smith said the Wildrose approach “is always going to be science-based.”
“We believe that as long as scientists are debating the
We believe that as long as scientists are debating the extent to which the emissions are impacting the environment and still coming to conclusions on that, we have to keep an open mind about this science
WILDROSE LEADER DANIELLE SMITH
extent to which the emissions are impacting the environment and still coming to conclusions on that, we have to keep an open mind about this science.”
The Wildrose has said it would cancel the Tory government’s $2 billion carbon capture and storage program designed to kick-start industrial use of carbon capture technology. Instead, it would offer incentives for consumers to retrofit their houses for energy efficiency or to convert vehicle fleets to natural gas.
Andrew Leach, an associate University of Alberta professor on natural resources, energy, and environment, said the scientific discussion about climate change has gone beyond whether it is real.
“There is significant uncertainty in climate science,” he said. “There are still many debates going on, but those are not at the level of whether there is any significant relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and global temperature change. They are at the level of to what degree.”
Leach said Albertans should be concerned about what role Alberta will play in addressing the issue nationally and internationally and that wasn’t answered by anyone in the online forum.
“Nobody really has said anything at all about what they would do or what they really think,” he said.
Mike Hudema of Greenpeace said it’s “alarming” Alberta may elect a government that denies basic climate science. “What are the economic and political implications of electing a government that doesn’t believe in climate change?” he wondered.
PC Leader Alison Redford didn’t say whether she agreed with the science, but said climate change is “a real issue on the international stage with respect to energy production, our reputation and our ability to export.”
Redford said Alberta is taking steps to address the issue with a federal-provincial joint monitoring program in the oilsands and funding a group of energy companies working on research to reduce the environmental impacts of oilsands development.
“Her point didn’t speak to emissions at all,” added Hudema. “It is definitely really concerning that we have two parties that do not have a plan to address the growing climate crisis.”
NDP Leader Brian Mason told the 6,500 participants in the online debate that he believes in the science.
“It’s absolutely clear climate change is real and driven by human activities,” he said.
Mason said Alberta should push Ottawa to act “more responsibly” on the issue and not wait for the Stephen Harper federal Conservative government to do something about it.
“We propose hard caps on carbon dioxide emissions,” he stated. “Specifically, we need to increase funding for transit and move away from coal-fired generation of electricity. We should be investing in renewable energy technology.”
Sherman agreed with the science behind climate change, noting his party would put a price on carbon and apply the levy to actual emissions.
“Industry will use half of the money to invest in green tech and municipalities get the other half for green transportation on a per-capita basis,” he said of his party’s plans.
Sherman also said the Liberals would emphasize the use of natural gas, which generates less carbon dioxide when burned, and would try to decrease coal use, as it remains the largest emitter of carbon.
WITH FILES FROM KELLY CRYDERMAN, CALGARY HERALD, AND KEITH GEREIN, EDMONTON JOURNAL. DHENTON@CALGARYHERALD.COM