## Weak Carbon Prices in Oil-Sands’ Home Seen Slowing Climate Gains **Oil sands are a major source of carbon pollution.** Their exploitation in Alberta, **Canada** has pushed the province's emissions to their highest levels in 49 years, since officials began tracking them. Carbon pricing is a key tool for reducing emissions. The idea is to make polluters pay for the damage they do to the climate, providing them with an incentive to cut back. In 2017, when Alberta introduced its carbon tax, emissions in the province actually went down. But the tax was weak, and the price of carbon has since fallen. As a result, emissions have started to rise again. **In other parts of the world, carbon pricing has been more successful.** The European Union’s carbon market, which began in 2005, has helped to reduce emissions by 10%. The carbon tax in British Columbia has also been successful, reducing emissions by 5%. **But Alberta’s carbon tax is too weak to have a meaningful impact on emissions.** As a result, the province is not on track to meet its climate targets. **The situation in Alberta is a cautionary tale for other jurisdictions considering carbon pricing.** If the price of carbon is too low, it will not be effective in reducing emissions. **The federal government needs to step in and implement effective carbon pricing regulations.** Strong carbon pricing is essential for Canada to meet its climate commitments and transition to a clean energy economy. Ways to strengthen carbon pricing in Alberta include: * **Increasing the price of carbon** * **Expanding the carbon tax to more sectors of the economy** * **Eliminating loopholes that allow major polluters to avoid paying their fair share** By strengthening carbon pricing, Alberta can reduce emissions, meet its climate targets, and transition to a clean energy economy.
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