The West’s Climate Double Standards, and Africa’s Need for Pragmatism

To my African leaders, I hope you are paying attention to the latest global developments: “Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has sealed a sweeping agreement with Alberta that removes two major federal climate rules, clears the path for a West Coast oil pipeline, and exposes what many see as deep hypocrisy in the country’s energy politics.”

The move is echoing far beyond Ottawa and Edmonton as it is also being read internationally as another example of how Western governments push tough climate measures on developing nations while choosing flexibility for themselves when economic pressure rises.

Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed the deal on Thursday, scrapping Ottawa’s planned emissions cap on the oil and gas sector and dropping nationwide clean electricity rules. Alberta, in exchange, will strengthen industrial carbon pricing and endorse the massive Pathways Plus carbon capture-and-storage project, which aims to capture emissions from the oil sands and funnel them into a shared storage network.

Yes, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have agreed to scrap key federal climate policies in the name of energy security. The deal eliminates the federal emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, suspends national clean electricity regulations in Alberta, and even supports a new oil pipeline to the West Coast. In short, the agreement is designed to boost energy production, not restrict it.

When Russia invaded Ukraine and Europe cut back on Russian energy, Germany reopened coal mines instead of holding the climate line. As we know, the United States is out of the Paris Agreement at the moment. But for many observers, Canada’s latest move is especially surprising, given its loud and moralistic position in the global climate crusade.

I remain an advocate for protecting our planet. Climate change is real, and Africa will bear disproportionate consequences since we do not have the insurance systems and resources to build more resilient-infrastructures. But I want African leaders to see clearly the double standards of the very nations that caused most of the environmental damage in the first place. They are not fully honest about their commitments when their national interests are at stake.

And that means Africa must therefore be pragmatic, not naïve. In climate geopolitics, there is no absolute climate “right” or “wrong”, only national interest. Let us protect our environment, but let us also protect our development, understanding that global players will always choose themselves first.

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