Global Warming
Greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands production are three times those of conventional oil and gas production [currently tar sands production emits 27 megatonnes per annum and is expected to rise to 108-126 megatonnes by 2015]. Thus, the tar sands are now poised to become Canada’s largest single emitter of greenhouse gas, compounding this country’s contribution to global warming. Additionally, tar sands production is expected to multiply as much as four to five times by the year 2015 to meet growing demands in the U.S. As a consequence, conservative estimates show that greenhouse gas emissions from the tar sands could well leap from 27 to 126 million tonnes by 2015.
According to the World Resources Institute in the U.S., greenhouse gas emissions from the tar sands could soon match the annual output of countries like the Czech Republic. GHG emissions by Alberta's tar sands could be twice that of Peru's output, three times that of Qatar, and ten times as much as Costa Rica. Moreover, as Canada's Environment Commissioner warned last year, pollution from the Alberta tar sands "could counter efforts to reduce emissions in other areas of society."
Governor Schwarzenegger, along with 10 States (and more plan to sign on), as well as Ontario and British Columbia have agreed to low carbon fuel standards to address greenhouse gas emissions, and would likely prevent the export of tar sands oil to these areas due to it’s high emissions during extraction, processing and use. Canadians and Americans want better, yet Prime Minister Harper does not feel the need to pass greenhouse gas regulations which would actually curb our emissions.
The results of recent studies indicate that overall emissions in Canada are unlikely to fall below current levels. A report from the C. D. Howe Institute states that: the government is likely to miss its 2020 emissions target by almost 200 megatonnes. Moreover, because of this gap in 2020 between target and reality, it is unlikely that a future government would be able to achieve the ambitious 2050 target."
