Canada is a modern and stable open market economy with an enviable energy profile. The country’s vast and diverse energy resources have positioned it among the largest producers and exporters of energy in the world.

This section provides an overview of many of Canada’s energy resources and the energy issues we face.

Canada’s success in leveraging its immense energy resources to create jobs, income and wealth has made it an important energy player on the global stage. But this does not guarantee future success.

Over the next 40 years, the world’s population will increase from 6.8 to 9.2 billion¹ mostly in non-OECD² countries where substantial economic growth will bring an unprecedented increase in energy demand. 

Climate change will impact the way our energy systems develop. As energy consumption accounts for 84 percent of the world’s carbon emissions³, managing energy demand and finding new ways to curb emissions is central to managing climate change.

The need to move towards a low carbon economy is becoming increasingly evident as nations develop strategies to ensure their energy security needs are met in the wake of diminishing conventional energy supplies.   

Successful countries will be those that innovate and harness opportunities created in moving to safe and more sustainable extraction, production, transmission and uses of energy.

[2] OECD: Organisation for  Economic Cooperation and Development

[3] International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 2009, p. 168