The Government of Saskatchewan shared a discussion paper yesterday to launch the development of a carbon offset framework for the province

The paper poses a series of questions to help develop a carbon offset framework that will create additional value for actions that result in carbon sequestration or reduced greenhouse gas emissions,

Sharla Hordichuk Executive director of the climate change branch on what this could mean for Estevan

"For Estevan there's a lot of oil and gas activity there we do require emission reductions in that sector already but that does not say their arent activities, that isn't happening or could happen with this type of program that really finds the value and can quantify emission reductions, so there could be opportunity there."

The goal of the paper is to help design a system that extends to all sectors to help the province shift to a lower-carbon economy

"We're really looking at those sectors that aren't required to reduce their emissions through regulation it's finding those opportunities in other sectors like the agriculture sector or forest or waste management, where activities are beyond business as usual and those activities can be measured and quantified."

The market-based program will provide carbon offset credits to a project developer who uses approved methodologies to reduce, remove or sequester GHG emissions from the atmosphere.