Federal Environment Minister John Baird has announced “tough measures” that will require oilsands plants built after 2011 to use carbon capture and storage to bury their emissions.

However, environmentalists say the new oilsands regulations aren’t as tough as they sound. Polluters can buy offset credits instead of cutting emissions, and projects built before 2012 won’t be subject to the new rule. “It actually sends a perverse signal to industry: ‘You have four years to develop, and you won’t be subject to any stringent restrictions,’” says Emilie Moorhouse, atmosphere and energy campaigner for the Sierra Club of Canada. “The government is actually encouraging development as quickly as possible for the next four years.” Carbon capture technology is still being developed, and projects built after 2011 won’t have to implement carbon capture and storage until 2018, under the government’s plan.

After Baird’s announcement, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach immediately put out a statement saying he supported the “principles” of the federal regulations. “The federal government is following Alberta’s lead when it comes to regulating industrial greenhouse gas emissions,” said Stelmach in the statement.

Alberta often boasts that it’s the first jurisdiction in North America “to legislate emission reductions for large industrial facilities.” However, the Alberta climate change plan announced in January allows emissions to rise until 2020. The federal government, meanwhile, says it’s aiming to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent of 2006 levels by 2020.

Alberta plans to cut its “projected emissions” by 50 per cent by 2050 — which means emissions would only be reduced by 14 per cent of 2005 levels in 2050. The province generates nearly a third of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. (JK)