Can Canada counter the political situation with Nord Stream II?
Nord Stream II, the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany has been a European issue for years, but now, just as it is about to start production, it’s true potential in world geopolitics is coming to light. While gas and oil are the universal boogeymen of climate change activists, the reality is that at present oil and gas are still very much here and are still very much an element of political influence. The concern with Nord Stream II is that Russia will use the pipeline and its control of natural gas availability to create political pressure within the European Union. This concern voiced by several European nations during the pipeline’s construction has now become a reality as Nord Stream II and the Ukrainian crisis coincide. Destabilizing NATO in Europe has long been a Russian objective and Nord Stream seems to be helping to do just that.
Nord Stream has shown the risks of Russian control of Europe’s energy supply. But this doesn’t have to be a long tern reality. There is a Canadian solution. Canada could replace much of Nord Stream’s supply to Europe. Canada could build two pipelines, one from Alberta to Churchill, Manitoba, and the other more ambitious, from Alberta to New Brunswick. These two lines would create a supply line of both oil and natural gas to Europe. Thus, providing a backup supply and reducing Russian influence. These pipelines have been discussed before and killed by environmentalist’s concerns. But maybe it is time for Canada and Canadians to think more realistically and more broadly. Maybe it is time for Canadians to have a world view. Maybe it is time for Canada to have an impact on world events.
We can help our European Allies and influence global politics. We can, but will we? Canada could build these pipelines using the best environmental safeguards available anywhere in the world, we can use the best technologies, we can over-engineer, but we would have to be able to put aside our irrational ideological views. It’s true that battery powered cars would be better than gas powered cars. It’s true that sustainable energy sources are better than coal. These are givens, however it will be a long time before renewable energy can replace oil and gas. We will still need lubricants, aircraft fuel, railway fuel and other everyday products which are still be made from oil and by-products of oil. Until all of these uses can be replaced by new technologies, oil and gas will still be needed. A constant effort to reduce the world’s need for oil based products and constant technological efforts to replace them certainly needs to be a priority, but the current reality must also be considered.
Nord Stream II shows that oil and gas supplies are still important international geopolitical chess pieces and, whether Canada likes it or not, we are part of the game. Canada can use her oil and gas reserves for good. They are a strategic strength in world dynamics. Oil and gas pipelines are international power projectors. We can use technology to over-engineer them. We can build them to be as safe as possible. But if we don’t build them, we allow others to build theirs and by abdicating our global responsibility, we lose any possible affect we could have on world events.
