Looking at Canadian Energy Up Close
Disclaimer: The summaries and interpretations provided on this page are unofficial and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS).
Summary
- Ian Wereley is a historian who studies oil history in the 19th and 20th centuries across the British Empire and other countries, focusing on how societies understand energy and navigate energy transitions to inform present-day energy policy
- Canadian energy history can be divided into two main periods: an organic energy regime that included animal power, wood power, waterpower, and human muscle power, followed by a mineral energy regime encompassing coal, oil, natural gas, and other fossil fuels
- Canada is currently transitioning toward a decarbonized or demineralized economy that incorporates clean technologies, renewable energy sources, and innovative options like geothermal, wind, tidal, and solar power
- Energy production has revealed uncomfortable aspects of Canada’s past, including how the Canadian government displaced other peoples and cultures to access energy resources needed for modern life
- Energy production and consumption create negative consequences including environmental damage and social justice issues, demonstrating that energy cannot be produced or consumed without costs to someone somewhere
- Canada functions as both an energy-producing and energy-consuming nation, with energy defining the fabric of Canadian life through car culture, cross-country travel, aviation, leisure activities, and the ability to live in extreme seasonal climates
- The current energy transition is not unique in Canadian history, as the country has undergone many energy transitions over approximately a thousand years, including the shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural lifestyles
- Canadians have experienced numerous micro-transitions within larger energy shifts, such as moving from whale oil to kerosene to electric lighting, and from horse-drawn carriages to coal-powered vehicles to automobiles running on various fuels
- Canadians rank as the ninth largest energy consumers globally and consume more energy per capita than countries like Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States
- Canada has maintained a diverse energy portfolio throughout history, utilizing peat, wood, coal, hydroelectricity, animal power, natural gas, oil, solar, and wind power simultaneously in different regions and time periods
- Major energy transitions in Canada have occurred approximately every fifty years or two generations over the past 150 years, with this timeline accelerating in recent decades
- Canada’s abundant natural resources and history of adopting new energy technologies positions the country well for future transitions to renewable sources like wind, solar, wave, and geothermal energy
- Current energy transitions differ from historical ones because Canada now has full sovereignty over its energy decisions rather than having them made by London during the imperial period
- The modern international energy market is more sophisticated and competitive than in previous centuries, requiring Canada to compete globally with other major energy producers and consumers
- Energy production brings both benefits and detriments, with positive impacts distributed broadly while negative consequences often concentrated in extraction areas and among vulnerable populations
Actionable Advice
- Study historical energy transitions to understand patterns and lessons that can inform current energy policy decisions
- Recognize that energy transitions are normal and manageable processes that societies have successfully navigated multiple times throughout history
- Develop expertise and skills necessary for energy transitions while anticipating and preventing unintended consequences in other sectors or regions
- Leverage Canada's natural resource wealth and technological innovation history to lead in developing renewable energy technologies
- Take advantage of Canada's sovereignty to make independent energy decisions that serve national interests rather than external powers
- Prepare for increased global competition in energy markets by developing strategic advantages in renewable energy sectors
- Consider both the benefits and costs of energy production when making policy decisions, ensuring that negative impacts on extraction communities are addressed
- Build on Canada's existing experience with diverse energy sources to create a robust renewable energy portfolio
- Plan for multiple major energy transitions over the next fifty years given the accelerating pace of change
- Maintain awareness that successful energy transitions require careful planning to avoid displacing vulnerable populations or creating new forms of environmental or social injustice