Environment advocates believe that federal Budget 2022 is a good start, but does not divest from oil-and-gas development.

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This years federal budgetThere are billions of dollars of new spending available to address climate crisis. However, some critics claim that too much of this money is used for carbon-capture technology.

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Others are concerned that the government did not fulfill its promise to divest from fossil fuels.

Budget 2022, announced Thursday, covers 60% of the cost of direct air capture facilities. These facilities extract CO2 directly in the atmosphere and store it underground.

Lawyers with the West Coast Environmental Law Association claim that carbon storage is an experimental technology that could have an impact on water and energy use and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Andrew Gage, a lawyer for the Association, stated that the budget treats direct-air capture and other technologies that sucking carbon dioxide out the air like a magic bullet and that taxpayer dollars should be used to support the oil and gas industry’s expansion.

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Scientists recognize the value of these technologies in stabilizing the climate, but they cannot be used as an excuse to prevent Canada from moving away quickly from oil and gas development.

Monday’s UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report stated that carbon removal from the air is a priority. It is vital to reach climate goalsHowever, this is only a part of a larger effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The budget was welcomed by the David Suzuki Foundation, which said that they were pleased with the climate action and environmental conservation spending. However, the foundation stated that it failed to fulfill its promise not to end public funding for oil or gas.

The budget provided $2.6 billion for five years to fund a new investment credit for businesses that invest in carbon capture. This is a method of capturing CO2 and storing it underground.

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Sabaa Khan, the foundations climate director, stated that this just puts money back in the pockets of the oil-and-gas sector, despite the fact that the government pledged in its election platform to create a plan to eliminate public financing for the fossil fuel industry.

How many more wake up calls do scientists around the world need to send us before we can stop, pivot, and make the necessary investments in Canada to be a leader in the inevitable clean energy economy? Khan released a statement.

The UCP government of Alberta applauded Ottawa’s offer to pay half the cost for new carbon capture technology that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Albertas Finance Minister Travis Toews said In an interview with Postmedia on Thursday The government is pleased with the measure, but disappointed that it didn’t include enhanced oil recovery programs.

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More than 400 Canadian climate scientists and academics were present earlier this year. Signed a letter to the governmentIt should be asked to stop the carbon cap tax credit. This is a violation of the country’s pledge to address climate change.

Khan was positive about the billions of climate spending. Khan approved nearly $900 million in clean electricity, $350million for greener buildings, homes, and $458.5 million to fund greener affordable housing.

Other notable climate spending included almost $1 billion to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and $1.7 billion over five year to extend Transport Canada’s consumer incentive program to make zero emission vehicles more affordable.

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The World Wildlife Fund welcomed $780-million of funding for nature-based solutions to protect 30 per cent of lands, waters, and ecosystems by 2030. It also received more than $50 million for B.C.’s older growth forests.

It’s simple: more nature means more habitat for wildlife (including species at risk) and more carbon storage. Megan Leslie, WWF Canada’s president and CEO, stated that only one-third of the planets remaining wilderness is found between our three oceans, and within Indigenous traditional territories. How we conserve and restore this natural environment will have an impact on biodiversity loss, climate change, and reconciliation.

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With a file from The Edmonton Journal