Alberta appoints Climate Task Force to transition to a lower-carbon economy

GLOBE-Net, September 20, 2016 – The Alberta government has appointed a task force to provide recommendations on targeting investments in climate technology to help transition to a lower-carbon economy.

As part of Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan, the Government of Alberta will make historic investments in research and innovation that will reduce emissions.

““Alberta, along with every jurisdiction in the world, is in a race for technology and innovation,” said Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

“Our advantage as an energy leader, and the government’s action on the Climate Leadership Plan, means that we are uniquely positioned to lead on clean energy and technology – creating jobs and a more resilient, diversified economy for generations. This task force will help us do just that.”

The task force consists of a chair and four members with significant experience and knowledge in research, development and deployment of climate change-related technology:

Gord Lambert, chair of the task force, brings his experience as part of Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel, and board member of Alberta Innovates. He currently is the Suncor Sustainability Executive in Residence at the Ivey School of Business.  His participation in the task force will help ensure Alberta’s research and innovation system as a whole is taken into consideration.

Other Task Force  members include:

• Dr. W.L. (Vic) Adamowicz, Vice Dean in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, and a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta.
• Shelly Vermillion,  who brings several years of experience working with a wide variety of small to medium enterprises – predominantly in the Indigenous entrepreneur marketplace.
• Suzanne West, President and CEO of Imaginea Energy, and
• Dr. Sara Hastings-Simon, Director of the Pembina Institute’s Clean Economy program in Alberta

What will the task force do?

• Conduct targeted, regionally dispersed, invitation-only engagement sessions with knowledgeable innovation and technology stakeholders in Alberta.
• Focus on the innovations and technologies that can contribute to a global low carbon economy.
• Provide recommendations on specific outcomes for a Climate Change Technology Framework.
• Deliver advice on how Alberta’s research and innovation system could support provincial Climate Change technology objectives.
• Provide recommendations for how to effectively demonstrate value (economic, environmental, and social) derived from long-term clean/green technology within the short and long term.

Outcomes

The task force will provide a written report to the Government of Alberta at the end of November 2016, summarizing the findings of the engagement and providing a recommended approach to government for a provincial Climate Change Innovation and Technology Framework.

“I look forward to bringing together world class input through engaging with research and innovation leaders and to discuss how we can focus our investments to meet the province’s climate change aspirations,” stated Lambert in a press release.

These engagements will bring together a cross-section of academic, business, government, and not-for-profit representatives in climate change-related technology research and development through targeted sessions in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Lethbridge this October.

In addition, Albertans are invited to provide their views on how the province can invest in innovation and technology that will shift Alberta to a low-carbon economy by emailing: CTTF@gov.ab.ca

Related Information

Climate Leadership Plan

Oil Sands Advisory Group

Energy Efficiency Advisory Panel

Alberta Jobs Plan

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