The Oilsands Alliance, representing Canada's largest oilsands producers including Suncor and Cenovus, has quietly reduced its flagship carbon capture project target from 68 megatonnes to 16 megatonnes per year, a 77% drop. The revised goal appears in a finalized memorandum of understanding between Alberta and the federal government, which also includes pipeline commitments and tax credits for the industry. Critics point to a pattern of greenwashing, noting the alliance made grand net-zero promises in 2021 while lobbying behind the scenes for weaker targets. The oilsands produce roughly 90 megatonnes annually, about a third of Alberta's total emissions. The new target aims for 6 megatonnes captured by 2035 and 16 by 2045, though existing projects in the province have averaged just over 1 megatonne per year since 2004.
