Opinion: We're better together

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The way Albertans have come together in response to the terrible events in Fort McMurray shows what we’re capable of when we put aside our differences and work together.

We believe that we need to summon a similar spirit to address the interconnected issues of climate change, energy security, social equity and sustainable economic development. Our future prosperity depends on it.

We recognize that the world needs to find a way to provide energy for its citizens and economies while simultaneously pursuing efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to less than 2 C above pre-industrial levels, as per the Paris COP 21 Agreement. We also recognize that there is unprecedented global agreement with commitment to transitioning the global economy such that we can achieve this target.

Alberta faces big challenges and new opportunities at a time when the forces shaping the global energy system are evolving rapidly and affecting our province deeply.

As energy consumers living in a cold climate and geographically distant from other trading partners, Albertans use significant amounts of energy to live and do business. As an energy provider whose economic vitality is highly tied to the global energy economy, we face a new set of competitive factors.

We cannot expect that prosperity today lies in the same path that it did in the past. Neither can we abandon the resources and assets that have made our province prosperous until now.

Our prosperity challenge lies in developing and leveraging our resources and assets in a way that helps build the energy system that the future requires of us. This means simultaneously developing low/no-carbon energy opportunities while reducing the footprint of the higher-carbon energy products that are currently the backbone of our economy. Alberta can lead the world by showing how this can be done.

There is a long history of innovation in Alberta to build from. The capabilities and know-how Albertans have developed as a global energy leader can serve as a platform for the innovation required to address our current challenge. Doing so will create new opportunities to renew our economic vitality and to diversify the sources of our shared prosperity.

Climate leadership is not just the role of government. We all have a responsibility to play a part, and we’ll be better if we act together. The Energy Futures Lab shows that people from diverse backgrounds, interests and political loyalties can work together on these important issues.

We’re better together, Alberta.

Chad Park, director, Energy Futures Lab, and Energy Futures Lab Fellows:

Sean Collins, co-founder, Student Energy

Sandy Martin, vice-president strategy and commercial development, Suncor Energy

Ryan Robb, regional manager, aboriginal and government affairs, Opus Stewart Weir

Michael Quinn, associate vice-president, research, scholarship and community engagement, Mount Royal University

Megan Zimmerman, business development manager, technology and renewable energy, Calgary Economic Development

Meera Nathwani-Crowe, manager, environmental performance improvement, Shell Canada

Mary Ann Kenney, Manager, CSR and Sustainability, Enbridge

Mark Brostrom, director, city environmental strategies, City of Edmonton

Luciano Dalla-Longa, vice-president finance, Purefield Upgrading Canada Inc.

Lorelei Hanson, associate professor, environmental studies, Athabasca University

Lliam Hildebrand, executive director, Iron and Earth

Kyle Kasawski, managing director, SOLARMAX Power

Kipp Horton, President and CEO, WindRiver Power Corp.

Justin Smith, director of policy, research and government relations, Calgary Chamber of Commerce

John Zhou, acting CEO, Alberta Innovates — Energy and Environment Solutions

Jesse Row, executive director, Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance

Jennifer Martin, president and CEO, TELUS Spark

Imre Szeman, Canada research chair in cultural studies, University of Alberta

Erin Welk, communities consultant, Urban Systems

Dick Ebersohn, program manager, climate change, City of Calgary

Desmond Bull, councillor, Louis Bull Tribe

David Lynch, general manager research and development, Enerkem

David Lawlor, chair, Calgary Regional Airshed Zone

Daniel Clarke, president and CEO, CSV Midstream Solutions Corp.

Dan Balaban, CEO, Greengate Power

Christopher Fry, external relations adviser, Shell Canada

Chad Townsend, environmental co-ordinator, Town of Banff

Binnu Jeyakumar, consulting adviser, Pembina Institute

Bruce Edgelow, vice-president strategic initiatives, ATB Financial

Audrey Mascarenhas, president and CEO, Questor Technologies Inc.

Apoorv Sinha, research manager, Zerocor Technologies Inc.

Anouk Kendall, president, Decentralised Energy Canada

Alison Thompson, chair, Canadian Geothermal Energy Association

Alexander Nnamonu, executive director, major legislative projects, Government of Alberta