GLOBE-Net, July 20, 2011 - Expectations that a National Energy Strategy would emerge from this week's meeting of Canada's energy ministers in Kananaskis, Alberta were dampened when what emerged was a carefully worded 'national approach' signalling a consensus on certain key energy issues and a 'broad-strokes' voluntary collaboration agreement.

The official meeting communiqué cited acceptance of "a shared vision for Canada as a recognized global leader in secure and sustainable energy supply", and identified areas of voluntary collaboration including regulatory reform, energy efficiency, developing new markets, improving smart grids and electricity reliability.

Much of the post-meeting pres commentary focused on what was not in the communiqué, namely core elements of a national energy strategy; agreement that the oil sands were a "responsible" supplier of energy to the world; and specific actions toward regulatory reform, developing new energy markets, and addressing broader national issues such as electricity reliability.

This does not take away anything from the important gains reached in Kananaskis, and indeed there were many.

The Action Plan called for increased efforts to streamline energy-related regulatory processes, working toward a 'one project, one environmental review' regime.

There were also calls to build on energy efficiency accomplishments through more stringent energy codes for buildings, collaborating on next generation home energy rating systems, advancing energy efficiency projects in the built environment, and furthering research and development of smart grid technologies and renewable fuels.

Further work on shale gas, marine renewable energy, electric vehicles and carbon capture and storage technologies was also called for, though nothing specific was tabled.

Alberta's Energy Minister Ron Liepert, host of the Kananaskis meeting was correct when he noted incredible progress was made on a path that ultimately will see some of the more thorny questions answered. The sentiment echoed by John Manley, head of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

Clearly, pre-meeting expectations in some quarters that a National Energy strategy would emerge from three days of meetings were unrealistic. Indeed, one could hardly expect a 'national consensus' when two of the key players were not at the table. Energy Ministers from British Columbia and Ontario were not present due to other priorities.

But achieving any form of intergovernmental consensus on complex public policy issues - and a national energy strategy is as complex as it gets - should be celebrated.

What does stand out from the public comments of some meeting participants is a strong focus on expanding oil sands production and the speedy approval of pipeline projects to move oil to expanding markets in the U.S. and in Asia.

"I believe a shared vision of energy is crucial to Canada's long-term future as a global energy superpower," noted Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, citing the Northern Gateway project to ship oil sands crude to Asia and TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would bring Alberta bitumen to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries as crucial to achieving that goal.

A true National Energy Strategy certainly must go far beyond the issue of increasing fossil fuel exports or building more supporting infrastructure for carbon-based energy sources.

Given the increasingly complex interconnectivity of energy and environmental issues, such a strategy must address a broader range of priorities associated with greening the economy, notably developing renewable energy sources, deploying innovative clean technologies, and maximizing energy efficiency in the built environment.

It also requires re-training the existing workforce for new trades and skill sets, and educating a new generation of workers to fill new occupations in a lower carbon future.

Of necessity, this involves the engagement a broader range of stakeholders from regions less endowed with energy resources and constituencies that are not focussed solely on energy sales and export market development.

Such an engagement process must extend far beyond periodic meetings of energy ministers and must provide for open dialogue with leaders of business, government and non-governmental entities that view energy in the broader context of our economy and our well being as a society.

We are far beyond the 'energy versus environment' debate. Indeed, these are but two sides of the same coin and any national strategy must address both in equal measure.

The dialogue must extend to other key sectors of the economy - forestry, chemicals, agriculture, mining, renewable fuels and biotechnology - to promote innovation in the technologies that would add value to Canada's vast natural resources. 

It must also be inclusive of those sectors that shape the cities and towns where we live and work, and the financial markets that are the basis of all investment decisions.

At GLOBE 2012, taking place in March of next year, leaders from business and government from around the world will address many of the core issues associated with the energy and environment nexus. We see GLOBE 2012 as one important way station on the road to a truly national consensus on our energy future.

Being an energy superpower is a reality, but achieving a sustainable society in the context of a lower carbon future is the key long term goal.

John D. Wiebe

President and CEO