As Earth Warms, Hell Freezes Over. Oil Sands Bigwig Declares “Climate Change is Real”
May 24, 2015
Audio above from News Talk 770, Calgary, Alberta.
If the Oil barons are worried, should you be worried, too? Suncor is a huge player in the development of the planet killing Alberta Tar Sands project. Steve Williams is the President and CEO. Williams has now joined Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben Van Beurden, and British Petroleum CEO Bob Dudley, in acknowledging the seriousness of the climate issue, and calling for a carbon price.
Ok, guys, now how about messaging some key politicians and captive media outlets to adjust their behavior accordingly?l? Just a suggestion.
Suncor is the world’s largest producer of bitumen, and owns and operates an oil sands upgrading plant near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Originally developed by Great Canadian Oil Sands, a majority-owned subsidiary of Sun Oil, it is now wholly owned by the independent Suncor. It was the first commercial development on the Athabasca oil sands, although small, earlier projects like that at Bitumount also played a role in development. The company holds a 36.75% interest in the Joslyn north oil sands project which was shelved pending an economic review by operator Total S.A. in May 2014. The company also produces conventional oil, heavy crude oil, and natural gas.[12]
An energy industry heavyweight told a Friday morning Calgary forum on climate change a healthy environment is key to a health economy–and vice versa. Suncor President and CEO Steve Williams says even though we don’t have all the answers, the time for action is now, noting “climate change is happening. Doing nothing is not an option.” Western Financial Group chair and former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning told the forum “we need to put a real price on carbon and emissions so every single one of us pays a price.” Dinning says so far political leaders haven’t had the courage to say “we’re in this together.”
Judy Fairburn with Cenovus says industry can do better. “We know we can be more green and competitive.” She said it’s a balancing act to avoid stalling development, but it will be good for “business, homes and citizens.” Amin Asadollahi, Oilsands Program Director, Pembina Institute urges Alberta to diversify into renewable energy. “Alberta has enormous wind, solar and geothermal potential.” “I don’t think we should let perfect be the enemy of the good,” Justin Smith with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce told the crowd when asked about the “right price” for carbon taxes. “So I dunno what the exact price should be now, but if we don’t do anything for five years, I can guarantee the effective price then will be a lot higher.” Chris Ragan with Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, the organization which organized the event, says “don’t rush anything”, as it would be bad to get it all wrong.
Climate Denial Crock of the Week 
May 24, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Here is the video…
panic sets in.. not just climate but financial.. tax everybody!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/big-oil-to-rachel-notley-bring-on-a-carbon-tax-1.3084357
May 24, 2015 at 1:48 pm
I hope Notley can hold her own against these heavy weights…
May 24, 2015 at 2:01 pm
You must be dense nobody denes that the Climate changes 😒
May 24, 2015 at 2:20 pm
right – you’re the smart one. Got it.
May 24, 2015 at 11:53 pm
Ever read his blog? Wear headgear.
May 24, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Go away, Lorne. You haven’t been missed.
May 25, 2015 at 6:20 am
Not sure how many people here watched the movie “The Merchants of Doubt” but there is a spot near the end where Fred Singer is shown in ~ 5 clips over ~ 30 years. In the first one he says something like “the Earth is getting cooler”. In the next one he says “there is no change”. This goes on until the last one which states “Of course the climate is warming but there is nothing we can do about it”. I wonder if the effect of a movie like this was to convince some people that continually deny climate change is to remain associated with crack pots.
May 25, 2015 at 6:38 am
Thanks to Fred Singer, there’s a partial list of the usual suspects.
I was already familiar with many of these but there are some unfamiliar ones on the list.
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/12032015/leaked-email-reveals-whos-who-list-climate-denialists-merchants-of-doubt-oreskes-fred-singer-marc-morano-steve-milloy
May 25, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Unfamiliar ones? Like mine? By all means, do become familiar with exactly why Dr Singer would have included me in that email chain: http://gelbspanfiles.com/?page_id=86
May 25, 2015 at 2:28 pm
I’ve read one, and the rebuttals.
If you want me to read more, we’ll have to discuss hourly rates for my time.
May 25, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Pat on the head and doggy treat to commenter “neilrieck” for regurgitating the talking point out of the movie, a wipeout I already covered back in January: ‘Skeptic Climate Scientists are Inconsistent on what They Say.’ Spread This Line Widely; NEVER Check its Veracity. http://gelbspanfiles.com/?p=1323
Dr Singer, along with other skeptic scientists have been quite consistent on saying what they say, one only needs to read what they say in their full context. But as I implied in my own Saturday review of Merchants ( http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/05/emmerchants_of_doubtem_a_climate_change_dud.html ), the “effect of a movie like this” really only works if you never question a word said within it. Such ultimately is the hallmark of the entire AGW movement, when any of you fellows really stop to analyze your collective tactics.
I’ll say it again. You guys need to start working on your exit strategy. Things are unraveling for you from horizon to horizon and it is only a matter of time until it becomes obvious to you. I alerted Robert Kenner to that problem just moments before surfing over here.
May 25, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Hey Rusell
When I looked you up in the dictionary, this is what was shown:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder
May 25, 2015 at 3:16 pm
I too looked Russell up a long time ago when he first appeared on Crock, and found what you did and more. In addition to NPD, he is classic Dunning Kruger, and my favorite descriptors for him are “flaming anal orifice”, “lying POS”, and “whore for the fossil fuel interests”. Watch just the first 30 seconds of Russell’s performance at Heartland’s ICCC9 in July 2014 and you will understand why engaging with him is a waste of time.
May 25, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Take a breath. We’re all about freedom of expression. When someone is already making a flaming anal oreffice of himself, its best to just stand back and let him flame.
As Emerson said, “..do your thing, and I shall know you.”
May 25, 2015 at 6:05 pm
“We’re all about freedom of expression”, you say? Russell is like the guy who yells fire in a crowded movie theater just because he has the right to “express” himself.
I thought we were “all about” seeking truth about AGW, climate change, and climate change deniers here. IMO, Russell is not about “truth”, and I would hate to see any of your casual visitors to Crock go away with the slightest impression that anything Russell says has ANY credibility.
IMO, he is simply evil, possessed by the Wetiko that Jeffy4Z always brings up. He is shameless in his whoring, and as dangerous as Dave Burton. If it was my site, I would have banned him long ago.
May 25, 2015 at 4:37 pm
It’s so amusing to see you saying things like, “the “effect of a movie like this” really only works if you never question a word said within it.” Your complete lack of self-awareness is hilarious.
May 25, 2015 at 10:26 am
[…] declarations but executives at BP and Shell in regard to climate and a carbon tax. Last week, Steve William, CEO of Suncor, one of the biggest Tar Sands players, declared that climate change was real, could not be ignored, […]
May 28, 2015 at 1:23 pm
[…] As Earth Warms, Hell Freezes Over. Oil Sands Bigwig Declares “Climate Change is Real” (Climate Crocks): If the Oil barons are worried, should you be worried, too? Suncor is a huge player in the development of the planet killing Alberta Tar Sands project. Steve Williams is the President and CEO. Williams has now joined Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben Van Beurden, and British Petroleum CEO Bob Dudley, in acknowledging the seriousness of the climate issue, and calling for a carbon price. […]