This is a special feature that I am hoping to run every term with my
University of Alberta Economics (ECON 366: Energy Economics) students.
I’ve modeled their last assignment off Jason Kirby’s Economists’ Charts
Week special issues in Maclean’s and the Globe and Mail. Students have
submitted a chart that is particularly important to them and, where they
felt comfortable doing so, have provided LinkedIn information and a
little bit about themselves too. Importantly, this was an optional
assignment and some students chose not to do it preferring to focus on
other courses at this busy time of year.
If you’re looking to hire an economics student, make sure to reach
out to some of the student on here, to me, or to the University
of Alberta Faculty of Arts careers office! If you like their charts,
connect with the authors on LinkedIn and tell them so!
Albertan Crude Oil Production Comparison between 2023 and 2024
Comparing crude oil production between 2023 and 2024 for different
types of crude oil, using Canada’s
Energy Future 2021: Energy Supply and Demand Projections to 2050Crude
Oil Production, is crucial for understanding Canada’s energy sector,
as a chart visualizing production levels aids in identifying trends and
opportunities for investors, particularly in light of changing
government policies, economic conditions, and environmental concerns.
Additionally, future iterations of this chart will monitor changes in
production levels, prices, and demand for each type of crude oil,
enabling investors to stay ahead of the curve in Canada’s dynamic energy
sector.
I am a 3rd Computer Science at The University of Alberta, in the
Computing Science Department, interested in general economic happenings
around the world, as well technological advances, specifically
advancements in machine learning.
Canadian Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector
As Canada heads towards net-zero emissions by 2050 it would be
helpful to know where the emissions are coming from. Most policy
discussion about a net-zero future focusses on the energy sector.
However, the agricultural sector is also a large contributor of
greenhouse gases, yet there doesn’t seem to be a huge push towards
greener agricultural processes. With the current efforts of emissions
reductions, we have seen a clear decrease over time within the energy
sector, and as we come closer to the deadline of 2050, will these
reductions be enough? Or will there also be a need to address the issues
with agricultural processes in order to meet the net-zero mark? This
will be the chart that I will be watching over the coming years as
emissions reductions increase through to 2050.
Data source: National
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
Hi! I’m Imran, a third-year economics major at the University of
Alberta, and am very excited to head into my last year as an
undergraduate. So far in my university career, the most interesting
topics of economics have surrounded energy and environment. I’m hoping
post-graduation that I will be able to work somewhere that will deal
with either or both. Hopefully I’ll be able to return to university in a
few years and complete my masters as well. A few things about myself, I
am an avid gamer, love the outdoors, and am a new dog dad to a 70 pound
bernedoodle
which has posed quite the challenge! He may be huge, but he is super
goofy and lovable. Hope you enjoyed my chart!
Energy Generation Worldwide: A Breakdown
The graphs displayed below have been created to display the
differences in electricity generation by source based on individual
regions of the world. These graphs are important when considering the
change in preference of electricity generation sources over the past 30
years. Such graphs create a unique electricity generation narrative in
each respective region, further these graphs show which regions of the
world are acting more aggressively on climate change in comparison to
others through such changes in generation from, for example, coal
generated electricity and renewables like wind and solar generation.
Further, many may not realize the vast differences in generation
preferences by region, making these graphs essential for understanding
world electricity generation.
My name is Isaac Cromb (email), I am currently in my final
Semester of a BA Economics with a certificate in Economics and
Management of Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (EMNREE). I
plan to pursue a masters degree in economics or similar fields in the
coming years. I am an avid hockey watcher (sorry Albertans but I’m a
Leafs fan) and played lacrosse and hockey in Ontario for much of my
childhood. When I was 14 my family and I ended up moving to Belgium
where I stayed until moving to Edmonton in 2019 to pursue my
undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta. In Belgium, I was
able to play lacrosse and help grow the sport which was just beginning
to gain some popularity in the region. Over the 3.5 years I lived there
I met some great people from around the world, learned a new language,
and developed a love for chocolate and a beer or two. Hope you enjoyed
my graph. If you would like to reach out to me you can reach me through
the links above.
Canada’s Energy Future Production Breakdown
This chart shows what our Energy Production would like in the future,
based on Current and Evolving Policies, based of data from ‘Canada’s
Energy Future 2021: Energy Supply and Demand Projections to 2050’. I
choose this chart as I was curious as to see what the breakdown would be
of our electricity supply in the future, in my head I thought we would
have a somewhat even mix of renewable but was surprised at the result of
how much Hydro makes up our future production (especially Quebec). I
think people should watch for any changes from this
projection,especially with the evolution of technology and their
potential cost effectiveness
My name is Joaquin Gavino, and I am a 3rd-year economics student with
a strong focus on financial and energy economics. As a future-oriented
individual, I am particularly passionate about understanding how energy
production will evolve in a climate-constrained world. I believe that
addressing the challenges associated with climate change is crucial for
achieving long-term economic growth and sustainability. My interests are
not limited to theoretical aspects; I am genuinely excited about the
technological advancements that can aide in the energy sector and their
potential to help us mitigate climate risks
The future of electricity generation in Canada.
In Canada, the next 10–20 years spells out a very high demand for
reliable electricity, electricity from various desired sources, which
will in turn require higher capacities. Electricity, and however closely
impossible it is to substitute, will be desired more and a stable stream
of generation will be required. Generation that is not only higher and
stable, but sustainable and generated from environmentally friendlier
sources. Throughout all scenarios and years, we still acknowledge the
importance of Hydro, but not much growth is seen along the way. More
interestingly, under all scenarios, wind and solar are steadily
increasing in generation, which is not only great given they are
renewable, but also for their minimal negative impacts
on the environment. Data used for this graph was taken from the CER,‘https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/open/energy/energyfutures2021/net-zero-electricity-canada-generation-2021.csv’.
As a previous international student from Ghana and having the
privilege to study at the University of Alberta in Canada, I can greatly
appreciate the importance of stable electricity and how essential it is
to basic and complex personal, societal and human thriving. I am
currently going into my final year of my undergraduate degree in
Economics, coupled with a French literature minor. It is safe to say
that I have enjoyed every aspect and niche that I have found myself in.
Amongst all the things I hold dear to my heart, my greatest aspiration
and drive has been to work within the United Nations and be able to
advocate greatly for my home country and Africa at large.
Global Oil Demand and Price
Nicholas Edmund
The demand for oil has steadily increased over the years, with a peak
of 99.8 million barrels per day in 2022. On the other hand, the price of
oil has been volatile, with a peak of 110.14 USD per barrel in 2015 and
a low of 70.45 USD per barrel in 2022. This chart highlights the
important relationship between global oil demand and price and the
impact they have on each other. In the future, it will be important to
watch for developments in renewable energy sources, as they may have an
impact on global oil demand and price in the coming years.
Crown land Sales and Associated Productivity
Ethan Feser
This chart highlights the acquisition of Crown land and the effect it
has on the cumulative yearly production in Western Canada, as the sold
land is used for drilling new wells. Of course the production increase
will not be immediate with land sales, as it will take years to start
producing off the newly purchased land. However it is important to note
the cyclical nature in Crown land sales, as there is many factors that
can affect this such as current land productivity and investment capital
upstream companies may have. It can be seen that Crown land sales have
gone down significantly, as there is currently lots of untapped reserves
in already acquired land such as the Montney formation, where many
companies hold lots of land rights that will provide them with many
years of future production.
Oil Prices and Employment
Gunnar Balakrishnan
Hello, my name is Gunnar Balakrishnan, I am an Econ student at the
University of Alberta. The graph I chose to make attempts to visualize
the potential correlation between the price of Western Canada Select oil
and the number of jobs in the Oil and gas industry in Canada. When oil
price, and other equities prices for that matter, are brought up they
tend to be thought of as nothing more then a cost of ownership; however,
the price of oil shows a significant link between the cost the commodity
and the real jobs available in the same industry. This graph is
important because it humanizes the oil industry, rather then the price
simply going down it could be viewed as jobs leaving the market and
Canadians getting laid off. People should be watching future versions of
this graph because as Canada slowly shifts to more renewable energy it
will be interesting to see if the elasticity of the oil and gas job
market remains. It’s also worth noting that the oil and gas industry is
a significant contributor to Canada’s economy, and fluctuations in oil
prices can have a ripple effect on other sectors as well. Moreover, as
the world becomes increasingly conscious of environmental issues, the
demand for renewable energy sources is likely to rise, which could
result in a decline in the demand for oil and gas and, consequently, a
further shift in the job market. Overall, this graph is a valuable tool
for understanding the complex relationship between oil prices and
employment in Canada.
Primary Energy Demand By Region In Canada, Evolving Policies
Scenario
On average, primary energy (natural gas, RPP, hydro, coal. Nuclear,
other renewables, and landfill gas) demand in Canada has been trending
upward until 2022. Alberta has the highest energy demand out of all the
regions, consuming over 4500 petajoules of energy at its peak. In the
Evolving Scenario, we can see that after 2023, the total energy demand
in all regions will gradually decrease. According to the Canada Energy
Regulator, this decrease is due to declining fossil fuel use. This
declining trend could reveal that Canada’s reliance on primary energy
will decrease, which could imply a more efficient energy use per
person.
I’m in my last semester here at the UofA, completing my undergrad
degree in Computing Science. I previously interned at Intuit and
ExxonMobil as a software developer. Always open to any opportunities,
feel free to contact me through Linkedin
or by email.
Growing PM2.5 emissions from mining industry
The graph below displays the PM2.5 emissions from mining and rock
quarrying industries from 1990 to 2021. PM2.5 emissions are known to
cause various health issues such as respiratory and cardiovascular
diseases.
Over the past three decades, the graph illustrates an increasing
trend in PM2.5 emissions from mining and rock quarrying industries with
some fluctuations. In 1990, the emissions were at approximately 300
thousand metric tons, which has more than doubled to over 600 thousand
metric tons by 2021. In 2021, metal production emissions increased by
51.36% compared to 2012 data, while coal production emissions increased
by 35.44%.
These findings highlight the significance of controlling the PM2.5
emissions from mining and rock quarrying industries to safeguard public
health and the environment. Although there have been efforts to curb
emissions, the increasing trend emphasizes the need for more effective
measures to address air pollution.
I am an avid cook (Chinese food), fitness newbie, meme creator and
hobbyist traveler. As a student, studying energy economics and
environmental economics has sparked my interest in the field of
Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG). I am enthusiastic
about contributing to the development of companies, society, and the
country in this area. ESG has become increasingly important for
businesses to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable and
responsible practices. By integrating ESG principles into
decision-making processes, companies can create long-term value for
shareholders, employees, and the environment. Welcome to follow my
instagram
CER Hydrogen Production Projections by Province
Canada is a large hydrogen producer. However, current levels of
production are nowhere near what is expected to come. Hydrogen has long
been praised as a great option for storing renewable energy. In
addition, when used in fuel cells, it results in emissions of only heat
and water vapor. It holds immense potential in the transition towards
clean energy. In 2021, CER
published data of estimated future hydrogen production under a current
policies scenario and an evolving policies scenario. The evolving
policies scenario assumes an increase in future efforts to combat
climate change both globally and domestically. CER’s given projections
imply a positive relationship between hydrogen production and climate
change action. As Canada moves towards achieving its goal of net-zero
emissions by 2050, hydrogen is an important resource to keep track of as
it holds the potential to transform Canada into a leader in the
production of clean energy.
I am a fourth year student majoring in economics and minoring in
international studies at the University of Alberta. I have a specific
interest in environmental and resource economics, and through this class
have developed an interest in energy economics as well. I am drawn to
these fields because managing natural resources in a manner that is
innocuous to the environment but also benefits society is a challenging
task that is of paramount importance. I am determined to be a part of
the efforts to reconcile these two goals. These fields also perfectly
combine my interest in economics with my love for nature.
The Potential Future of Liquid Natural Gas Exports in Canada
Sergei Lavrinenko
There has been a hesitancy in the Canadian energy sector when it
comes to the future of liquid natural gas. Remaining relatively steady
since 2013, the price of natural gas shot up since 2020 due to the
recent war in Ukraine. Russia contributed to 8.4% of the LNG export
market share CanadianEnergyCentre2023
that is now disrupted, leaving some countries with a shortage in natural
gas. This hike in prices along with the recent LNG export refinery in
British Columbia may shed light on an opportunity for Canada to provide
natural gas to countries in need and the motivation to get a firm hold
in the market.
Greenhouse gas emissions and projections in Canada, 2005 to
2035
Winifred Onoko
GHG emissions are increasing at an alarming rate, degrading the
environment and affecting lives and the economy. I choose this chart
because it gives hope that efforts are in place to control greenhouse
gas emissions. Three measures are forecasted to reduce emissions to
their bearest minimum in 2035. From the available record from
Environmental Climate Change Canada and the National Inventory Report,
greenhouse gas emission is expected to reduce to about 400 MtCO2e in
Canada by 2035 after applying the third measure. The chart looks
promising for the reduction of GHG emissions in Canada. Plans are in
place both locally and internationally for this purpose. All efforts
geared toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the Federal
Government and the provincial level make this chart unique for me. As
the projected plans unfold, we should see the curves in this chart start
to level in the right direction.
I am Winifred Onoko, a final-year Environmental and Conservation
Sciences student majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy—a
Nigerian by birth. Before migrating to Canada, I studied accounting and
worked as a Control and Compliance officer in the Banking sector for
eight years. On arriving in Canada, I worked with Walmart as a customer
service manager before taking a health Care certificate course, after
which I worked with CBI health services and then proceeded to the
University of Alberta for a degree program in Environmental and
Conservation Science.
I choose to study Environmental science due to my quest to know and
familiarize myself with Canada and its environment. I have acquired a
wealth of knowledge about the environment and history of Canada from my
field of study and currently have a basic understanding of the use of R
programming. I am now very motivated to give back to my community.
Electricity Generation Forecast 2020 - 2050 for Canada by Resource
type
We see the topic of climate change and global warming everywhere we
look, coupled with buzzwords thrown around by politicians to get
votes.
I believe that the benefits behind the shift towards using renewable
primary fuel for electricity generation can be analyzed by looking at
the graph of Canada’s projected electricity
generation, under the Evolving Policies case, the case which assumes
that action to reduce the GHG emssions by Canada’s energy sector will
continue to increase.
The reason for which this graph should be considered timely is simple
- many politicians will advertise themselves as
enviroment-friendly candidates and will use the Evolving
Policies case as the underlying backbone of this claim.
What this graph will do for YOU, is display the
projections for the next 30 years, given this scenario, just in time to
provide valuable information before the upcoming election cycles, no
matter what political belief you hold.
I am a 3rd year student pursuing a BSc in Computing Science with an
interest in Economics. My interests including cooking, rock-climbing,
going to the gym, and developing websites.
Shooting for Net Zero
The CCC Balanced Net Zero Pathway and the DESNZ Reference Scenario
are both scenarios in the United Kingdom that are proposed to help the
country reach net zero by 2050. Both scenarios see the amount of oil
demanded in the UK drop significantly, however never do these numbers
dip below the projected production amount. This implies that when acting
on climate change the country will face a shortage of oil.
I chose to look at this data as I plan on moving to the UK to
complete my masters degree and wanted a sense of their climate scenarios
and how oil is in turn being impacted. Additionally, this is an
interesting figure to watch as there have already been variations in the
expected oil demand in the UK as they are facing a cost of living crisis
and inflation is on the rise.
Ethane Supply Projections
Based on the ethane projections graph, it appears that current
policies and evolving policies have similar trends in ethane production
until around the year 2030. However, after 2030, evolving policies show
a higher increase in ethane production compared to current policies.
This could be due to the fact that evolving policies take into account
more stringent regulations and increased adoption of renewable energy
sources, which could potentially limit the production of other fossil
fuels such as oil and natural gas. Overall, the graph suggests that
evolving policies may lead to a more sustainable and less
carbon-intensive future.
As a third-year economics student, I am extremely fascinated by the
energy markets and their impact on our world. I have always been
interested in how we can create a sustainable future while still meeting
our energy needs. I am excited to learn about the different ways we can
achieve net-zero emissions and reduce our carbon footprint. I believe
that by exploring these possibilities, we can make a significant
difference in the world and create a more sustainable future for
generations to come.
Canada at a Crossroads
Canada’s road transportation emissions per capita are second in the
world only to the United States, mainly due to the widespread usage of
large personal vehicles and a low level of public and private investment
for efficient transportation.
2022 saw the United States’ largest ever policy package aimed at
reducing GHG emissions—the Inflation Reduction Act. For 2023, expect
this legislation to put pressure on all three levels of government in
Canada to react with policies of their own with the goal of reducing
emissions (particularly those created by road transportation). Will
Canada choose the policy path of the United States, and continue to
herald electric cars as the future of transportation? Or will Canada
challenge the status quo, and invest in more efficient methods of
transportation? Regardless of which policy path is taken, one thing is
clear: transportation needs to change drastically if we are to reduce
our GHG emissions.
My name’s Dustin, and I’m in my final semester as an Economics major.
I’ve completed a few co-op terms totaling just under two years of work
experience. Most recently, I worked as a Student Economist at Prairies
Economic Development Canada.
As I reach the end of my studies and reflect back on what I enjoyed
most about university, it would probably be the opportunity to take
courses in a variety of different subjects. It was great to build
knowledge outside of my major, and I enjoyed befriending people from a
variety of academic backgrounds. More related to my major, I’ve gained a
lot of experience with different programming languages relevant to data
analysis. I look forward to working on projects that apply – and
continually expand – this knowledge after graduation.
If you have any questions or comments about this graph, free to reach
out to me on LinkedIn.
Observing the Progress of Renewable Energy Generation
As the demand for energy continues to rise, so too does the demand
for cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. Many have been wondering
how energy suppliers will keep up with this growing demand, and how
reliable are the current renewable sources that are currently in use.
The following chart shows the expected trajectory of renewable energy
generation by energy source in America. This data was taken from the
2023 annual energy outlook, which provides annualized data projections
for renewable energy generation starting from 2022 and ending in 2050.
According to these projections, annualized renewable energy generation
in America should triple in the next 20 years (2042), with most of the
increase coming from wind and solar power. This expected rapid expansion
of renewable energy is reassuring, but will it be enough to match rising
demand? Will it be enough to phase out non-renewable sources?
I am a 4th year Economics student at the University of Alberta. I
have recently begun exploring the global energy landscape as part of my
energy economics course. I work at the Wilson climbing center on Campus
at the U of A. I enjoy dragon boating, and I hope to start a dragon boat
club at the U of A next year. I currently live in Edmonton with my
grandmother, who is a retired public health nurse.
Self-determination as Climate Mitigation
This map pinpoints remote communities across Turtle Island and their
energy affiliation. These communities highlight the devastating impact
of GHG emissions which is manifested in shorter ice-road seasons and
thawing permafrost. These compressed winter seasons shorten time for
basic, lifesaving supplies like firetrucks to get to communities.
However, this map also represents many Indigenous Nations that are
working to own, control and determine their energy future. Rather than
being passive within projects, Indigenous communities continue to build
capacity and create effective revenue-sharing agreements. Through
self-determination, Indigenous Nations are able to create better
outcomes for their communities.
This student is from a First Nation community. She is completing her
final semester at the University of Alberta. Currently, this student
works in federal politics as a Policy Advisor to a Minister. Previously,
she worked in academia researching clean energy transitions for remote
Indigenous communities. This allowed her to gain a technical
understanding of microgrids, economic autonomy, decentralized energy and
renewable energy systems.
Sale of Fuel used for Cars In Canada
Eric Van Hal
I chose to create a chart of sales of fuel used for road motor
vehicles annually in Canada. I chose this topic because I find it
interesting to see how much gas Canadians use every year just on
driving, and the number was way higher than I expected. In the chart it
shows the effects covid had on the amount of fuel consumed over the
pandemic with a drastic drop off in 2020 from the lack of vehicles being
driven. I believe this chart matters cause it show the incredible amount
of gas that Canadians consume on an annual basis just on transportation
and illustrates how distant we really are from all cars being fossil
fuel free.
My name is Eric Van Hal, I am a 5 year finance major, economics minor
student graduating at the end of this semester. I am an avid sports fan,
I’ll watch or play almost any sport put in front of me which takes up a
large part of my free time. When I am not doing that I am either hanging
out with friends or in the outdoors. I love camping, quading,
snowmobiling, hunting, and almost anything to do with the outdoor. After
this semester I am traveling Europe and South East Asia for four months
and then coming home to hopefully find a job. That’s what I am up to and
what I like to do!
WCS Prices
Edwin Xie
I chose the chart on the price of Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude
oil because it provides a valuable perspective on the volatility of the
global energy market and its impact on the Alberta economy. As a large
producer of crude oil, Alberta’s economy is heavily dependent on the
energy sector, and fluctuations in the price of crude oil can have
significant effects on the provincial economy.When the price of crude
oil is high, Alberta’s oil and gas companies generate more revenue and
profits, which can lead to increased investment in new projects,
expansion of existing operations, and higher employment levels. This, in
turn, can lead to increased economic activity in other sectors, as well
as higher tax revenues for the government.
My resouces came from https://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/dashboard/wcs-oil-price/
World liquid fuels production and consumption
Tensho Yoshizawa
World liquid fuels production and consumption are important
indicators of global energy trends, economic growth, and environmental
sustainability. These fuels, which include crude oil, natural gas
liquids, and biofuels, are used for transportation, industrial
processes, and electricity generation. Changes in production and
consumption can impact energy prices, energy security, and greenhouse
gas emissions. These are why people should watch this graph. It showed
trend of price and forecast of liquid fuels in the future. Now, many
countries reduce their production to maintain enough profits. It is also
has geopolitical influence. So understanding the production and
consumption of liquid fuels is crucial for policymakers, businesses, and
individuals alike, to inform decisions on energy use, investment, and
policy development to achieve a sustainable future.
