Providing balanced, scientifically grounded information to communities, corporations and government on the environmental, social and economic impacts of conventional sources of energy.
Conventional energy sources include oil, gas and coal. The pace and scale of conventional energy development has increased dramatically in Canada over the past decade, particularly in Alberta due to the booming oil sands industry. Developing these resources responsibly requires that the negative environmental, social and economic impacts be minimized.
The Pembina Foundation supports research on the potential impacts of conventional energy development and strategies to minimize the negative effects of development on eco- and climate- systems, as well as our society. Research funded by the foundation addresses a range of conventional energy developments, from oil sands to coalbed methane. The objective of this program is to provide the public, landowners and other affected stakeholders with an understanding of the potential implications of conventional energy development — as well as information on what responsible management of these resources may entail — to enable them to make informed decisions and participate in the management of these resources.
Program Highlights
Northern British Columbia Oil and Gas Program
There are more than six large scale energy and pipeline projects proposed for development in northern British Columbia within the next five years. The pipelines and related infrastructure will affect more than 30 First Nations communities living along the route and may have significant environmental impacts including damage to fish stock and habitat, local land and wildlife disturbance and increased greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change. The Pembina Foundation is supporting the development of education materials for local First Nation communities on the potential impacts of the proposed energy developments. The project's objective is to enable members of affected communities to make informed decisions during their engagement in the planning processes for these developments.
The Pembina Institute has undertaken this work on behalf of the foundation. Many of the materials developed with the support of the Pembina Foundation are available through the Pembina Institute's BC Energy Watch program website, which is developed and maintained by the Pembina Institute.
For more information on the Northern British Columbia Oil and Gas project, contact
Karen Campbell
Director of BC Policy
The Pembina Institute
Email: karenc(at)pembina.org
Tel: 604-874-8558 Ext. 225
Fax: 604-677-4662
Water, Oil and Gas in Alberta
It is critical that energy development does not compromise watershed health, freshwater availability or groundwater resources in Canada. Yet the current use of water for oil recovery may affect the sustainability of Canada's water supply. Ongoing research supported through the foundation is aimed at assessing the implications of the oil industry's thirst for water and exploring possible solutions for eliminating the use of fresh water in fossil fuel extraction. The research includes the potential impacts of conventional shallow gas resources such as coalbed methane and shale gas on fresh water aquifers. This information will be available to landowners to help inform them of industry best practices to help avoid contamination of water supplies through oil and gas extraction.
Reports funded by the Pembina Foundation are available at www.pembina.org, a site developed and maintained by the Pembina Institute.
For more information on the Water, Oil and Gas in Alberta project, contact
Mary Griffiths
The Pembina Institute
Senior Policy Analyst
Email: maryg(at)pembina.org
Tel: 780-433-6675
Fax: 780-433-6675
Managing the Impacts of Oil Sands Development
Canada's oil sands represent a new frontier of oil production. They allow us to quench, at least temporarily, our thirst for oil. But at what cost? In 1995, government and industry set a goal of producing one million barrels per day by 2020: this goal was surpassed in 2004. The new goal is now five million barrels per day by 2030. How best to manage the environmental impacts arising from this pace and scale of development is emerging as a focal point of discussion about the future of energy production and consumption.
The Pembina Foundation supports research and public education on oil sands issues with the aim of helping Canadians understand the full impacts of oil sands development and options to improve the management of this non-renewable energy resource.
Many of the oil sands reports were researched and written by the Pembina Institute on behalf of the Pembina Foundation. The foundation-funded reports are available at www.OilSandsWatch.org, a site developed and maintained by the Pembina Institute.
For more information on the Oil Sands Impacts project, contact
Dan Woynillowicz
Senior Policy Analyst
The Pembina Institute
Email: danw(at)pembina.org
Tel: 403-269-3344 Ext. 107
Cel: 403-888-6272
Fax: 403-269-3377
