Methane regulations are proven, cost-effective, and a no-brainer - Clean Energy Canada

Rachel Doran, executive director of Clean Energy Canada, praised the federal government’s updated methane regulations as a straightforward, cost-effective measure to reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions from oil, gas producers, and landfills. She emphasized that these regulations align with Canada’s carbon competitiveness strategy and offer a practical way to address near-term climate change impacts without imposing significant costs on producers. British Columbia’s success in surpassing its methane reduction targets ahead of schedule was highlighted as evidence of the effectiveness of such policies. However, Doran expressed disappointment over delays and reduced ambition in methane regulation efforts, particularly between Alberta and the federal government, referring to methane mitigation as “low-hanging fruit” in climate policy. She stressed the importance of maintaining strong regulatory standards in any future provincial equivalency agreements to ensure meaningful emissions reductions and economic competitiveness. The federal government’s commitment to fully implementing these regulations in the coming months is seen as critical to preserving their intended impact.