EDMONTON -- Alberta revealed a plan yesterday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but critics say it falls sadly short of what is required to protect the environment.
The plan calls for a 14% drop in emissions over 2005 levels over the next 42 years.
There would be no net reduction in emissions until 2020, when the plan kicks in until 2020.
The required adaptation of technology would likely be put in place by 2015.
Until then, the province estimates greenhouse gases will continue to increase by up to 50-million tonnes.
The targets fall well short of those laid out in the Kyoto accord and by the European Union, which has called for reductions of 60% to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Stelmach, whose government has incurred the wrath of environmentalists over its support of emissions-heavy oilsands development, called the Alberta targets "realistic goals for industry."
The plan calls for industry to account for about 70% of reductions, with the majority of that to be handled by a process of trapping carbon dioxide below the ground.
"Once that technology is in place, emissions will drop dramatically, and that's one part of the plan," said Stelmach.
Officials said forcing existing industrial users, including those in the oilpatch, to adopt carbon capture into their existing operations could put them out of business.
Dr. David Swann, the Liberal environment critic, said the plan will look ridiculous to climate change experts.
He said the plan stems from a Tory belief that global warming isn't a serious issue.
"This government has no credibility on climate change. They've been denying climate change for 10 years."
He said the Liberals, if elected, would place hard caps on emissions within five years and contribute up to a billion dollars to retrofit existing homes and businesses, and assist them to conserve.
NDP Leader Brian Mason said the public would be wise to wonder if the plan will ever be taken seriously.
He said the fact it comes right before an anticipated provincial election call screams of a publicity stunt.
