CRIN@COP Hosted by Bill Whitelaw

Join us as Bill Whitelaw speaks with Justin Riemer, CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), ahead of #COP29 in Baku. Justin shares insights on Alberta's progressive approach to emission reduction and the impact of ERA’s competitive funding model on cleantech innovation. From geothermal to smart electrification, ERA invests in later-stage tech projects with real emissions reduction results. Alberta is setting a global example, balancing economic growth with sustainability.

On this episode of CRIN @ COP28, hosted by Bill Whitelaw, we sit down with Beth (Hardy) Valiaho, Vice President of Policy, Regulatory and Stakeholder Relations at the International CCS Knowledge Centre (and a CRIN board member) to discuss why this particular Conference of the Parties is of peak importance in the energy transition timeline. This insightful conversation offers a taste of Canada's story as a leader in CCS and why COP28 is an important opportunity to share our knowledge globally to help build the critical partnerships that will pave the way for CCS to take big bites out of the world's emissions.Covered in this episode:Why COP28 is a global stocktake year and an opportunity for us to evaluate how far we have come (or haven't come) in reducing emissions on a large scaleHow CCS has changed the landscape and conversation at COP now that the technology has been proven, making it more and more relevant to how we can achieve our net zero goals Why CCS just makes sense nowThe price of carbon being both a carrot and a stick to drive changeThe unique history of the International CCS Knowledge Centre and how it has evolved since its roots at the Paris COP What knowledge-sharing opportunities have emerged as a result of the learnings from the Boundary Dam and the work of the International CCS Knowledge CentreAs a COP veteran, what Beth sees as the opportunities to share and listen for as CRIN and its members attend COP28The exciting events Beth will be a part of at COP28 and why you won't want to miss them

On this episode of CRIN @ COP28, hosted by Bill Whitelaw, we sit down with Kevin Krausert, CEO and co-founder of Avatar Innovations, for a fascinating look at the work Avatar Innovations does to advance the effective deployment of technology to help the industry improve its emissions reductions. How will we actually make a difference in solving our emissions challenges? According to Kevin, the path forward is not in regulation but in innovation. Covered in this episode:The changes Kevin has seen throughout his career in the oil and gas industry and how those changes and challenges inspired him to start working with the University of Calgary to develop the Avatar programThe goals of Avatar Innovations to build technical competencies and collaboration within the oil and gas process chain to deploy technology and innovation more effectively in the field, while also bringing emissions reduction technologies to market fasterHow Avatar Innovations' unique corporate ventures studio leads bright, emerging young leaders through its program to tackle some of the biggest challenges in different technology streams to unlock innovation fasterHow transformation may be the fastest, simplest and cheapest way to get to a net zero futureWhat Kevin hopes to achieve as he leads a couple of different multi-stakeholder panel discussions and a showcase of 18 exciting Alberta clean tech start-ups, all taking place as part of the CRIN Pavilion at COP28 For those who can't attend, what to watch for beyond the headlines of COP28 as the conversation unfolds.

On this episode of CRIN @ COP28, hosted by Bill Whitelaw, we sit down with Glen McCrimmon, CRIN's Director of Operations, and Lesley Coldham, Director of Public Affairs with the International Gas Union (IGU). This exciting conversation will delve into how these two powerful organizations have come together to develop a panel examining the Global Methane Pledge to be presented when the world comes together for COP28. What does a net zero future beyond 2050 look like? Through the conversations that will take place at COP28, the answer might just be found in the art of the possible and one that IGU and CRIN could jointly deliver. Covered in this episode:The global reach and impact the IGU has and why COP28 is an important opportunity for the organizationHow CRIN and IGU are similar as connectors and conveners of their areas of interestThe message IGU will bring to COP28 about the role gas will play in the world's energy future and what intelligence they are looking gather from the different countries and companies that will be attending COP28Why COP28 is a great two-way street for organizations like CRIN and IGUHow the interlocked diversity of this panel, with speakers representing the value chain of the energy industry, gives us the opportunity to work on the problem of methane emissions in a way that hasn't been done beforeA look at what the Global Methane Pledge is and what it is trying to achieveHow this is just a start to the marriage made in heaven between CRIN and IGU and what both organizations hope will come after COP28 to keep the conversation and progress moving forward

On this episode of CRIN @ COP28, hosted by Bill Whitelaw, we sit down with Stephen Buffalo, CEO of the Indian Resource Council (IRC), to discuss the forward-thinking new partnerships being developed with Indigenous communities related to resource development. Because of these incredibly important partnerships, we are accelerating a very inclusive energy transition by combining traditional knowledge, innovation, technology and collaboration from which we will all benefit. Covered in this episode:The IRC model and the inception of the organization and the Indian Oil and Gas Act to provide a means for First Nations to advocate the oil and gas industry and address regulatory concerns How the IRC's National Energy Business Centre of Excellence is building capacity and how traditional knowledge can be used to address reclamation and environmental progressThe Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation and it's purpose to provide First Nations that had no investment capital the ability to participate in resource projectsHow equity ownership in projects is a game changer for First Nations communities who are trying to stand up on their ownWhat message on behalf of Alberta and Canada Stephen would like to leave for the world at COP28How Indigenous communities can be an agent of change, creating a balance for energy progress while preserving traditional lifestyles

On this episode of CRIN @ COP28, hosted by Bill Whitelaw, Dr. Aminah Robinson Fayek, VP of Research and Innovation at the University of Alberta, joins us to talk about the interdisciplinary innovation ecosystem that has emerged at the University and the great learning opportunities she is excited about while attending COP28 as part of the CRIN Delegation. Covered in this episode:How Aminah thinks about Canada's clean technology environment and how organizations like CRIN create a rich environment for stakeholders to be a part of the processThe role the University is playing in creating the human capital curriculum for students who will take us into the next 50 to 60 years of energy innovationThe nexus of collaboration between multi-disciplinary stakeholders to advance technology and overcome barriersThe diverse clean technologies the University is currently working onHow the energy industry isn't in isolation when tackling the big environmental and social challenges the world is facingWhat conversations Aminah hopes to advance through the panel she will be moderating at COP28 featuring speakers from the University of Alberta, Alberta Innovates, Cenovus and others.Post-Production Change: Rhona DelFrari (Cenovus) is no longer able to participate in the panel that is discussed in this episode. Arlene Strom (Suncor) will be participating in her place.

On this episode of CRIN @ COP28, hosted by Bill Whitelaw, we sit down with Scott Volk, Director of Emissions and Innovation at Tourmaline Oil Corp. to discuss what is driving emissions strategies at one of the top resource companies in Canada, and what message and learnings they will be taking to COP28 as part of the CRIN delegation. Why does Tourmaline have an important innovation story worth telling at COP28? Not only are they a leader in the energy industry, they have also gone through extensive work to become the first company in Canada to be certified by TrustWell. Covered in this episode:The four emissions reduction areas Tourmaline has been focused on as part of its strategyThe role collaboration and clean technology have played in methane reduction learnings, including their work with the Natural Gas Innovation Fund and the development of the NGF Emissions Testing CentreHow the drilling rigs of today are vastly more environmentally efficient than those of the past thanks to technology deploymentHow COP28 provides an opportunity to unlock the stories of the work being done in the industry to ensure everyone can benefit from emissions reduction innovation and learning, not just those in the energy industry but across sectorsCanada's advantages in this spaceThe role of corporate responsibility through all aspects of Tourmaline's work and how the cornerstone of building partnerships with First Nations is going above and beyond on environmental performanceWhat Scott and the Tourmaline team want to learn at COP28 to bring back to their organization and the sectorThe benefits Tourmaline has experienced so far working with CRIN

In our first episode of the CRIN @ COP28 podcast we introduce you to the network of networks and what CRIN aims to accomplish by hosting a pavilion in the UN Blue Zone at COP28.