Climate inaction threatens future of oilsands: Suncor CEO

Suncor Energy says one of thebiggest challenges facing the Alberta oilsands is responding to climate change.

Suncor president and CEO Steve Williams shared the comments during the company's 50th-anniversary celebration in Fort McMurray on Wednesday.

• Suncorposts higher Q2 net earnings despiteoilsandsproduction shortfall

"We recognize the climate-change problem and I think we will solve that with new technologies," Williams said. "So we will earn the right to be here for the next 100 and 200 years."

Williams reiterated the comments in a video the companyposted onlinethe same day.

Mark Little, president of Suncor'supstream organization, agreed that the company will reduce its carbon footprint with new technologies.

"It's about innovation,it's not about standing still," Little said. "We can always find things we think we need to do better."

Suncor'swebsite says the companyisusing and improving its technologythat removes carbon frombitumen and also carbon capture and storage technology. It's also using lower-carbon fuels like natural gas at its facilities and generating electricity from waste heat.

In 2016, Suncor pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions30 per cent by 2030.

Suncoropened its firstfacility in the oilsands on September30th, 1967.

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