Alberta’s delegation to the UN climate change conference COP28 was the province’s largest in recent history, costing taxpayers over $160,000. Premier Danielle Smith and Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz led the delegation, along with a team of staffers and a civilian who paid for the trip himself. The purpose of the trip was to promote Alberta’s emissions reduction technologies, environmental stewardship, and its role in the global energy transformation, as the province cannot rely on the federal government to do so.
The two-week trip included attending panels and forums on topics like carbon markets, carbon pricing, and the energy transition. Smith also met with officials in Dubai and Doha to discuss investment opportunities in various sectors. Schulz did not attend the meetings in Qatar, but her ministry staff were present during the conference. The large delegation and extensive meetings were meant to showcase Alberta’s strengths as a world-class destination for businesses and investments.
Compared to previous delegations, Smith’s 16-person team was nearly double in size and three times more costly than Rachel Notley’s delegation to COP21 in 2015. The goal of the 2015 trip was to promote Alberta’s climate leadership plan, strengthen relationships within Canada, and demonstrate the province’s commitment to action on climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Notley’s delegation incurred travel costs of $45,866.59 in 2024 dollars, whereas Smith’s trip cost at least $160,000 for taxpayers.
Expenses for Smith’s delegation included a significant portion for hotels, airfare, food, ground travel, and per diems. The decision to stay overseas for two weeks and the choice of accommodations were made to balance taxpayer value with security and accessibility. While economy class tickets are usually booked, there is no similar guidance for accommodations, stating only that they should be “reasonable.” The Canadian Taxpayers Federation expressed concerns about the high costs of the COP28 trip and questioned the return on investment for taxpayers.
Political observers suggested that the large delegation and expenses may have been aimed at demonstrating Alberta’s status as an affluent oil-producing jurisdiction. By bringing a big team to the conference, the government could show that money was no object and gain credibility among other oil-producing nations. However, critics questioned the benefits of such a large delegation and the substantial costs involved. The government defended the trip as necessary to promote Alberta’s energy sector and fight against accelerated phaseout of oil and natural gas.
At the conclusion of COP28, Smith and Schulz issued a joint statement emphasizing their commitment to showcasing how an energy-producing jurisdiction can increase renewable and non-renewable energy production while achieving carbon neutrality through investments in new technologies. They criticized those advocating for the phaseout of oil and natural gas and reiterated their commitment to the province’s net zero by 2050 plan. Overall, Alberta’s participation in COP conferences over the years has been aimed at promoting the province’s climate leadership and attracting investments in the energy sector.
