Alberta oilsands emissions intensity down 28% since 2012 but Pathways carbon capture questioned by economist

A new Alberta government report shows oilsands emissions intensity fell 28% since 2012, even as production rose to 3.3 million barrels per day. The province credits technology and efficiency gains. But environmental economist Dave Sawyer warns total emissions from the sector are still expected to rise significantly, with new pipeline capacity adding an estimated 20 megatonnes per year. The Pathways carbon capture project, backed by five major oilsands companies, aims to store 6 megatonnes annually starting in 2035 and up to 10 more by 2045. Critics argue that would only offset a fraction of the growth from new pipelines. The report lands as Alberta hosts federal and provincial environment ministers in Calgary, with the province using the data to argue its approach balances growth with lower per-barrel emissions.