Canada's climate plan is dishonest, says Greenpeace

The briefing note states that "only a small percentage" of emitted carbon dioxide (CO2) in the tar sands can be captured, despite government claims to the contrary. Both governments have sold their CCS plan domestically and internationally as a solution to the runaway greenhouse gas emissions produced by Alberta's tar sands development.

The Alberta and federal governments also failed to disclose that CCS will cost billions of dollars annually and that both governments share the long-term legal liability for storing CO2. The Canadian government is expected to tout its investment in CCS as a global warming solution at the international climate talks in Poznan, Poland next week.

"The tar sands are Canada's fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and this report raises serious questions about the country's commitment to combating climate change," said Mike Hudema, tar sands campaigner with Greenpeace. "This report reveals what we've been saying all along: carbon capture and storage is a scam. It is the ultimate industry pipe dream."

Last summer, Greenpeace released an international report on CCS, entitled False Hope: Why Carbon Capture and Storage Won't Save the Climate. The report dispels some of the myths surrounding CCS while calling on governments to invest in long-term solution to the climate crisis and explore safe, clean and proven energy technologies like wind and solar.

"Canada couldn't meet its Kyoto Protocol targets because of the tar sands, and now it's clear that Canada's investment in CCS is nothing more than a smokescreen to disguise the government's inaction on climate change," said Hudema. "Instead of continuing down a path the government's own advisors are saying won't work, we should be creating the clean economy of the 21st century."

The task force report was sent months in advance of the governments' $2.5 billion investment - the world's biggest - in CCS technology.