The Impact of Environmental Regulations on Canada’s Oil and Gas Job Market
Canada’s oil and gas sector is facing a major transformation as global GHG emissions continue to climb. To combat this change, companies are investing in asset optimization, research and development as well as technology deployment to reduce GHG emissions and meet customer demand.
One of the primary challenges faced by the industry is cutting its methane emissions, which are as powerful as carbon dioxide over a 20-year timescale when it comes to warming the atmosphere. To meet this target, Canada has set an ambition of reducing methane emissions by 75 per cent from 2012 levels by 2030.
Health and Safety
Health and safety regulations have a major influence on Canada’s oil and gas job market. These rules set standards for safe workplaces, often having an economic cost to companies.
Ontario’s Occupational Safety and Health Act can result in stiff fines for non-compliance. Furthermore, there are Partnership Programs where employers and workers collaborate to develop successful health and safety management systems.
These programs are designed to reduce operational, regulatory and reputational risk while simultaneously helping recruit and retain employees.
Additionally, they could potentially reduce costs for businesses by automating routine safety tasks.
Environmental Regulations
Environmental laws and regulations are essential in safeguarding humans, animals, natural resources and habitats. They regulate pollution control, hunting regulations, disaster response operations – in short anything that has an adverse effect on our environment.
Federal and provincial governments are jointly accountable for upholding environmental regulations across Canada. Their mission is to safeguard nature from harm, including by stopping oil and gas projects that might wreak havoc on it.
Governments have a responsibility to consult with Indigenous groups about projects that may affect their traditional rights and, where feasible, accommodate those demands. Typically, this occurs as part of the approval process for a project.
Environmental regulation can be an invaluable tool in the fight against climate change, but it also comes at a significant cost to companies. That is why it’s essential to weigh the benefits of regulatory approaches, incentives and market solutions when selecting your business’s optimal strategy.
Climate Change
Climate change is a long-term alteration to weather patterns that has profound effects on our global ecosystems. It affects everything from water supplies and ocean health to wildlife populations, agriculture production, and human wellbeing.
Fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, are the primary contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions that are warming our climate. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere before releasing it as carbon dioxide or methane emissions.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that it is imperative to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to prevent irreversible harm. But to reach this goal, drastic cuts in carbon emissions must occur.
Canada has been striving to meet its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target under the Paris Agreement. Unfortunately, Canada’s current plan will not be sufficient enough to achieve the new target of keeping average global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius; further action must be taken at least double what has already been committed by government.
Compensation
In Canada, there are various regulations related to compensation that may impact the oil and gas industry. For instance, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act establishes standards for health and safety within this sector while federal rules regarding carbon pricing systems motivate companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Furthermore, the Canadian government has set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. As such, many in the oil and gas industry are investing significant resources into finding ways to reduce GHG emissions while ensuring their operations do not negatively affect the environment.
Aside from environmental regulations, there are also governmental review laws that may be invoked by foreign investors acquiring oil and gas interests in Canada. These restrictions are regulated under the Investment Canada Act (ICA).