Environment Canada released draft guidelines for new oil and gas proposals that require companies to prove their planned projects have the lowest emissions intensity of any comparable project in the world. If that standard can’t be met, the regulations require companies to explain how they will improve emissions intensity in the future using “advanced and emerging technologies.” (The Logic) 

Talking point: Ottawa’s draft rules underscore the tightening regulatory burden the oil and gas industry faces as it looks to meet its net-zero targets. Carbon-capture and storage is expected to do most of the legwork in reducing on-site emissions, and companies will increasingly cite the sequestration technology when applying to build new projects. Major companies are in the early stages of such developments: On Tuesday, Alberta released a list of 19 carbon-capture projects that are allowed to move forward under the province’s regulatory approval process. The list includes a massive $13-billion sequestration hub expected to provide the bulk of emissions reductions specific to the oil sands.