Just days before the European Commission moved forward with legislation to block crude oil imports from Alberta's oil sands, former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell spoke out against it.
"The oil sands have the same kind of impacts as many other sources of energy globally," Campbell told BBC News during a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. "To pick out one doesn't answer the problem."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper named the ex-Liberal Party of B.C. Premier high commissioner to the United Kingdom last August.
It's considered one of Canada's most prestigious diplomatic postings.
Besides promoting ongoing Canada-Europe free trade negotiations, Campbell became one of the top Canadian diplomats lobbying against the EU's pending clean fuel legislation.
That legislation, known as the Fuel Quality Directive, would encourage fuel suppliers to avoid importing oil from high-carbon sources such as Alberta's oil sands.
Vigorous opposition from the Alberta and Canadian governments (as well as the European oil industry) nearly succeeded last year in striking out any clauses targeting Canadian oil.
But the European Commission decided to stand firm on Tuesday, backing measures which declare that transportation fuel produced from the oil sands has one of the sector's highest carbon footprints. European Union member states will vote on that proposal in four to six weeks.
British green advocacy group the Co-operative applauded policymakers for "standing up for cleaner fuels and a low carbon future."
"Europe is setting a precedent for the rest of the world to follow," Co-operative campaigner Paul Monaghan told UKPA.
That sort of precedent is exactly what Alberta's oil industry, which actually exports very little crude oil to Europe, and its political supporters fear.
In Scotland, former Premier Campbell insisted that Canada is making progress towards its climate change goals, despite a recent report from federal environment commissioner Scott Vaughan suggesting exactly the opposite.
"We're trying to work with partners in the U.S., the EU and around the world to make sure we meet our [climate] obligations," Campbell said.
"But we're clear about the fact that everyone is demanding more energy."
Geoff Dembicki reports on energy and climate issues for The Tyee.
7
Login or register to post comments
pwlg
33 weeks ago
campbell just doing his job
I wonder if Tzeporah Berman wishes to give our disgraced former Premier another award for his "commitment" to reducing GHG emissions?
Doesn't go over well for the Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute or Power UP or Forest Renewal or whatever other organization Berman can dream up for her self. These organizations were part of the award presentation to Campbell in Copenhagen which shocked the thousands of other environmental organizations around the world.
Only in Canada you say, a pity! Indeed!
Oh, by the way, why not put The Hook inside the regular page of the Tyee? I think good articles and information are being bypassed.
WilliamJ
33 weeks ago
Gordo????
Gordo's comments are akin to a crack addict claiming that his prostitutes are all clean and saintly.
lynn
33 weeks ago
Harper's Hired Hand
The Low Commissioner, as expected, sinks ever lower.
shepsil
33 weeks ago
@pwlg absolutely right. So Tzeporah Berman & Co. next move is?
I seem to recall her claiming she made a choice to support Gordon Campbell's Run of River projects so that when the time came, she could depend on him and others to support a campaign against the OilSands (read Tar). So lets hold her feet to the fire here and remind her of that commitment, before she conveniently forgets!
max von smartt
33 weeks ago
thermal armageddon
ok so the tar sands are not light sweet crude, probably like many other sources. but co2 anthropocentric global warming is a hoax; it's the sun stupid!! u really wanna pay carbon taxes to the new world order after the us dollar and ekonomy collapses?? do you favor violent eviction of third world peasant farmers from arable lands to grow biofuels?? i would support a hemp revolution for fuel, food and fiber on more marginal lands, oh ya and more bikes...
Sask Resident
33 weeks ago
Meaningless
A meaningless exercise to make the European parliament look good to Europeans. None of Alberta's oil is exported to Europe nor is expected to be exported to Europe. However, Europe may say that Newfoundland oil is also dirty and expand the ban to include it.
However, Europe imports oil from Russia and Nigeria. From night time satellite pictures, Russia is lit up with flaring natural gas. Nigeria doesn't bother to flare the natural gas so vent the methane directly into the atmosphere. Methane is many times more efficient than CO2. Europe considers oil from Russia and Nigeria as clean?
zalm
33 weeks ago
Gordo's mug shot
...should be sent to British tabloids again til they get who it is that pops in and out of Canada House every day.
The drunk that was at the wheel of the provincial economy is now at the wheel of foreign policy. The driving style hasn't changed, and neither have the sobriety or the consequences.