A province that is three times the size of France will stop oil and gas extraction. Over the next three years, all wells in Canada’s largest province, Quebec, will be closed. It was decided by the Quebec National Assembly in April, and it is thus the first time in world history that a region of this size bans oil and gas exploration. The historic decision comes after a great deal of pressure from climate organizations and activists, who for a number of years through campaigns and demonstrations have tried to push politicians into climate-friendly measures. – It really is their merit. It shows that, with a common goal, we can create great change, says Caroline Brouillette, national policy manager at Climate Action Network Canada, which is a coalition of more than 140 Canadian organizations fighting to force political action to benefit the climate. . More states to follow With the new law, they will close a total of 62 sites, where oil and gas will be drilled in Quebec. They cover a total of 32,000 square kilometers – an area about the same size as Vestland county. In 2019, Quebec’s oil and gas sector released 2.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents in the process of extracting, refining and distributing fossil fuels alone. But even if all CO2 savings are a good thing, there is still a long way to go if we are to reach the goal of the Paris Agreement. Because there are thousands of large drilling sites around the world, and although several countries have set themselves the goal of stopping oil and gas exploration, most goals are set in the distant future. For example, in 2020 Denmark promised to stop extracting oil and gas in the North Sea. It is very good for the climate – but the plug will not reach the oil wells until 2050. Similarly, France, Spain and Ireland have also promised to separate with the production of fuels in 2040, 2042 and 2050 respectively. The International Energy Agency IEA and the UN Environment Program have made no secret of the fact that it requires a significantly faster reduction of fossil fuels to reach the goal of the Paris Agreement. But with ever-increasing global warming and an overall global commitment to move to green energy by 2050, Quebec is paving the way for the rest of the world, according to Caroline Brouillette – Quebec is sending a strong signal to the rest of the world to follow. We know what we are going to do to reduce CO2 emissions, so even if there are economic consequences in the short term, there are several benefits and opportunities in the long term, she emphasizes.
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End of oil and gas in Canada’s largest state
