CAPP president ignores climate change in Vancouver speech

In December 2024, at an energy forum hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Lisa Baiton, President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, gave a keynote speech to industry representatives. Despite the ongoing public discourse around climate change and carbon capture technologies, Baiton's address made no reference to these critical issues. Instead, she advocated for reduced regulations and increased fossil fuel extraction, asserting that ambitious climate policies posed a threat to the oil and gas sector in Canada. This marked a significant departure from the industry’s stated commitment to climate solutions and demonstrated the tension between economic interests and environmental responsibilities. During her speech, Baiton highlighted optimistic forecasts for oil and natural gas demand. She referred to predictions from the International Energy Agency indicating a rise in oil demand to 107 million barrels per day by 2030, with gas demand anticipated to grow through 2050. This message was delivered against the backdrop of political uncertainty, particularly in light of newly proposed tariffs on Canadian oil exports following President Trump's remarks regarding trade with Canada and Mexico. Baiton’s comments seemed more focused on reassuring her audience about the health of the fossil fuel industry rather than addressing the potential economic risks posed by reliance on exports, particularly to the United States. The event took place shortly after Canada experienced rising energy costs and a reversal from being a net energy exporter to importing a significant portion of its energy needs. This shift in Canada’s energy landscape, characterized by increased reliance on fossil fuels despite global trends towards renewable energy, creates a complex scenario for the Canadian economy. Baiton's speech can be interpreted as an attempt to galvanize the industry to push back against regulations that could stifle production, despite the pressing realities of climate change. The collected sentiments from this exclusive industry event suggest a broader reluctance within the oil patch to embrace changes aligned with climate goals. By not addressing climate change, Baiton and the CAPP signal a preference for maintaining the status quo, prioritizing industry growth over environmental considerations. While she called for increased extraction, it raises questions about how the industry plans to respond to shifts in public opinion and policy direction on climate issues in the future.