CALGARY (CU)_Burning coal for power is the single greatest source of carbon emissions in the world. Therefore, phasing out thermal coal is considered to be one of the critical issues in climate action. Accordingly, the federal government of Canada had introduced a new policy which will make it more difficult to develop a thermal coal in the country.
“The government of Canada considers that any new thermal coal mining projects, or expansions of existing thermal coal mines in Canada, are likely to cause unacceptable environmental effects,” the policy, which was released on Friday, said. “This position will inform federal decision making on thermal coal projects.”
This means that the federal cabinet is required to consider climate change and sustainability when weighing new projects, regardless of their size.
“What we’re saying is this is something that does not fit from a public policy perspective,” Federal Environment Minister Jonathon Wilkinson said. “A proponent can continue on through the process, but that’s a pretty high bar to surmount.”
The move is expected to severely impact Coalspur Mines, and its plans to expand its Vista mine in Alberta. According to Wilkinson, the company has already been informed that its expansion project, which will be largest thermal coal mine in North America, will also face a federal assessment. The Minister pointed out that the policy provides direction and more certainty to other companies which are considering similar projects.
The North American nation is the founding member of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a global effort to reduce the use of thermal coal, and therefore, the Environment Minister is of the view that permitting new mines would harm the country’s efforts in that forum. “We’ve been the leader in the international community telling other countries that they should be phasing out thermal coal — and then we approve new thermal coal mines? People would say that doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
