Canada's clean hydrogen could help wean Europe from Russian oil, Liberal ministers tell G7

Source: | · GE · | June 27, 2022

Source: G7 officials and energy ministers, including Canada's Steven Guilbeault, centre, pose at a summit in Berlin on May 26, 2022. PHOTO BY ANDREAS GORA - POOL/GETTY IMAGES

OTTAWA — Canada could ship clean hydrogen to Europe in the future to help wean it from its dependency on Russian oil and gas, say federal ministers.

At meetings with G7 counterparts in Berlin this week, Natural Resources Minster Jonathan Wilkinson and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Canada is investing in the development of clean hydrogen, which could help Europe reduce its reliance on Vladimir Putin’s regime for energy.

Canada also played a key role in persuading the G7 — which includes the United States — to phase out international financing of fossil fuel projects by the end of the year, the federal government said. Canada made its own commitment to do so at the COP26 climate-change conference in Glasgow last year.

The pledge at the G7 meeting was part of a package of measures agreed upon to combat climate change, including global action to phase out coal-fired power.

Wilkinson and Guilbeault also pushed for a G7 “hydrogen action pact,” focused on the role hydrogen can play as a clean energy source for the future.

The government has been supporting the development of clean hydrogen, a low-carbon fuel, including in Atlantic Canada, which is closer to Europe than Alberta and Saskatchewan, making it easier to ship.

“Canada remains steadfast in leading the global energy markets and security to ensure support for the international community,” Wilkinson said in a statement.