Canada has the third largest oil sand deposit in the world, following Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Oil sands are not only a crucial part of today’s energy production, but they also greatly impact the politics and economy of a country. However, the oil sands take a large toll on the environment. While this massive carbon footprint can be decreased and possibly eradicated with laws and regulations, the current environmental impact is troubling. Many argue that further expansion of the oil sands will have an additional impact on the environment, therefore creating a larger carbon footprint and increasing the effects of global warming. Another aspect that is often brought up in the debate of the oil sands is their economic benefit and the impact …show more content…
However, oil has previously played a positive role in the Canadian economy, it has recently been responsible for the decrease in value of the Canadian dollar. Articles from the Globe and Mail and the CBC present opposing arguments on this matter. Both believe that change was necessary, whether that mean halting expansion on the oil sands or ensuring stricter regulations before proceeding with expansion. The Globe and Mail support the expansion of Canada’s oil sands in an opinionated article, whereas the CBC presents the need to conclude the expansion of the oil sands in Alberta in a news article. Though both the Globe and Mail article and the CBC article are discussing whether or not to continue the expansion of the oil sands, the Globe and Mail’s argument supporting the expansion of the oil sands providing a more convincing claim than the one presented in the CBC article. It effectively presents both sides of the argument and is able to dismiss the arguments made in favour of ending the expansion of the oil …show more content…
researchers say, describes why Canada should stop the expansion of the oil sands. The CBC’s article is based upon information formed by a panel of biologists, political scientists, physicists, economists and geographers. The group came to the conclusion that the oil sands expansion needs to end, though they did not call for completely halting Canada’s oil sands operations. The following is a scientific explanation as to why expansion needs to end according to the CBC, “No new oil sands or related infrastructure projects should proceed unless consistent with an implemented plan to rapidly reduce carbon pollution, safeguard biodiversity, protect human health, and respect treaty rights”. The article goes even further by bringing up the fact that Canada’s previous prime minister, Stephen Harper, agreed that by 2100, Canada will stop the use of all fossil fuels, and therefore expansion of the oil sands will be a waste of money seeing as they will no longer be prevalent in eighty years time. Furthermore, this article does not bring up or dismiss arguments supporting the expansion of oil sands, rather as the article progresses, it becomes less distinctive as to what the argument actually is. Therefore, though the sources and opinions of this article are presented without bias, they are not as consistent and less powerful than the arguments presented by the Globe and
The Athabasca Delta is a breeding ground for species of birds, which was destroyed to clear the land for oil development. These development practices are a leading factor towards increases in pollution. A scientific panel stated on Tuesday that pollution must be corrected, as there are major debates against the oil sands development. Proponents argue that business through the Oil Sands has made Canada a major player in foreign supplement. Unemployment rates have decreased across Canada and companies generate huge profits. The Alberta Oil Sands provide Canada with a secure source of energy. Throughout the world, Canadian oil reserves are the second largest in the world. Oil mining operations in Canada also help create more trading partnerships with different countries. This is a great way Canada can strengthen relationships and ties with various nation-states. The Oil Sands is a stabilizing force for Canada’s economy, yet it has a tremendous effect on the environment. Corporations are held responsible for their actions, and environmental protection should be their main concern. The procedures that the Oil Sands has taken are not effective, to an extent, where the pace of investment and development in the oil sands
The Alberta tar sands, is currently the largest construction project taking place in the world, and as such is a very important
The oil production in Canada has several significant issues that depict the destruction nature of the industry. These issues can be categorized as environmental, political, economic, and social. The environmental issues lead the pack; in that the environmental destruction associated with the industry is extensive. The environmental problems are climatic, land, water and air related (Best & Hoberg, 2015). Under climatic effect, studies indicate that the development of the tar sides has resulted to three times more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than in production of conventional oil. These environmental issues are caused by the composition of the tar sands. Unlike the convention oil, tar sands are a mixture of bitumen and sand. The process of separating the two results triples GHGs emissions when compared to conventional oil production (Koring, 2013).
For centuries, humans have had the unsatisfiable desire for more. This is seen quite often throughout history, with a common characteristic being that the environment or some people are negatively affected, usually with longterm effects, in mankind’s quest to satisfy their lust. A modern day example of this is seen in Alberta’s oil sands, as well as in James Cameron’s sciencefiction film Avatar. Alberta oil sands have the third largest oil reserves in the world, making up over 20% of Alberta. The oil industry is a staple part of our economy, as we rely heavily on it. However, in order to get to the bitumenrich oil sands, countless trees have been cut down, and many people in northern Alberta have been affected, including over 20 indigenous groups.
There is a huge debate if the oil sands of canada are affecting canada positively or negatively.The social and community improvements are a result of the oil sands in alberta. The economic benefits are another positive that the oil sands bring. Finally the direct and indirect jobs created in the oil sands are a huge benefit to canada. The oil sands are one of the best things that happened to canada.
The Alberta Oil Sands have affected many stakeholder groups such as government, residents, researchers and employees. However, we will focus on how it affects the Alberta Government; specifically, Ed Stlemech of the Conservative Government. As my stake holder, Ed Stlemech does not live within the Alberta Oil Sands area as well as have any direct relevance to it, I will instead examine how it has affects the citizens of Alberta and more importantly, those who live in and near the Fort Chipewyan area. In this way, the environmental, the economical as well as the societal impacts will impact Albertan voters and therefore impact the Conservative Government in way of the Alberta General Election.
There are many different factors contributing to global warming. The Alberta oil sands are only one of them, but they're one of the largest sources of harmful air pollutants in Canada. The oil sands are polluting our air and water, clear cutting the Northern boreal forest and affecting the First Nation tribes living around the sites. Canada should no longer be funding the Alberta oil sands because of the negative impact it has on the environment and people near them.
In “Tarmageddon: Dirty oil is turning Canada into a corrupt petro-state,” Andrew Nikiforuk argues that the Canadian oil industry has harmed Canada’s environmental, political and economical images. First, Canada starts to be regarded as having a defensive attitude towards environmental issues since the Bitumen has been explored. Regardless of the Bitumen’s high cost and emission, Canada still welcomes billions of foreign investment in the Bitumen. Consequently, newly operated industries begin to destroy the forest and generate toxic waste (even into water). While refining oil, lots of energy and freshwater are squandered, outpouring a considerable amount of carbon emission. Hence, Canadian oil industry has been pictured as a “carbon-making
The reason this question has to be answered is simple, Canada sits at a very important junction in its evolution; does it continue to push forward to become an energy superpower or does it let the environmental conversation win, pushing forward instead with a clean energy agenda? This essay will hopefully drive this conversation forward.
The other adverse effect of the Canadian oil sands is that pipelines and massive processes of refining oil sands in Canada are a source of pollution that pose a great threat to air, water, and land as well as human health. Additionally, the use of its products like natural gas that is used to run medium-sized turbines that produce electricity releases greenhouse gases. These emissions are mostly produced when steam is injected to reduce the viscosity of the crude and during refining. These further increases to the global warming effect that is already out of hand and it also negates the gains made by society by exposing them to the adverse negative
Alberta is a province that is rich and abundant in natural resources such as oil sands. What are oil sands? Oil reserves play a very important role in the Canadian economy. Oil sands from areas such as Alberta have been described as “Canadians greatest buried energy treasure” by popular magazines such as Time magazine. Oil sands are a naturally existing mixture of sand, clay and other materials such as water and bitumen. Some materials in oil sands including bitumen are highly viscous that they need to be treated and refined before they can be used by industrial sites in order to produce fuels such as gasoline. Oil sands can be refined to make oil. There are approximately 170.4 billion barrels of oil that can be used in the Northern part of Alberta. Approximately 80% of the oil sands can be recovered through the In-situ production. 20% of the 80% is oil that can be recovered and purified by mining. Bitumen, a highly viscous material in oil sands is found by mining 90% of the time. While oil sands have a positive effect on us, it has a very negative effect on the environment. Oil sands have a very negative effect on aquatic ecosystems all around the world. Oil sands use up a lot of the water and energy. At present, two to five barrels of natural and recycled water are needed for every barrel of oil produced for mining. Oil sand project affect the natural aquatic ecosystems. Some of the negative effects oil sands have on aquatic ecosystems are that sometimes oil sands
On the contrary, I argue that economic growth is important, but the destructive environmental effects this bill will bring about outweigh their benefit. The extraction of the oil sands will cause immediate damage to the ecosystem, and the Transportation of these sands could pollute the drinking water of over 2.3 million Americans (Denneky). For the remainder of this paper I will elaborate on my arguments against the bill, and address the arguments in favor of the bill.
Along with greenhouse gases, other pollutants are released into the air during oil sands operations. These pollutants are harmful to ambient air quality and human health. In the Alberta oil sands, regional air quality is mainly impacted by the production of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide (NOx gases) (“Air Emissions,” 2015). NOx gases are primarily produced by fuel combustion in vehicles and react to form smog and acid rain (NOx gases in diesel car,” 2015). Consequently, these gases project a concern to the workers present that are mining the oil sands. This is because NOx gases overtime can lead to reduced lung function and breathing problems (NOx gases in diesel car,” 2015). Finally, these gases pose a threat to local wildlife and vegetation since they react to form acid rain in the atmosphere. The production of acid rain is harmful for the ecosystems present. This is especially true for aquatic ecosystems and overtime will lead to death of local wildlife. To conclude, the development of the oil sands is unfavorable due to the production of harmful gases. The development impacts global climate negatively due to increased greenhouse gas
First of all, the mining of bitumen burns enough natural gas every day that can heat 6 million homes. It takes more than 3 million barrels of fresh water a day to produce 1 billion barrels of bitumen, 2 tons of earth excavation and sand to make 1 barrel of bitumen, about 2 tons of tar sands are required to produce 1barrel of oil and then 90% of the polluted water are dumped in the world’s largest impoundments of toxic waste which are the tailing pounds along the Athabasca River. If tar sands growth goes unchecked an area the size of Florida will become a wasteland. A single incident, in 2008, 1,600 ducks died after landing in the tailing pounds of syncrude tar sands mine. It is not only destructive to ancestral lands, habitat, both on land and water but also causes enormous GHG emissions. Data shows that oil sands are Canada’s largest source of CO2 emissions.
False. You also may be wondering why I chose false because I just talked about all the negative impacts greenhouse gases have on our atmosphere. Well don't worry, I’m about to tell you why. Now there are numerous bias statements in Emily’s video that depict truth from opinion but I will only talk about a few. For starters, Emily goes on about all the negative effects tar sands have in our earth, but refuses to discuss the positive. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not “pro tar sands” but I’m not against it either. For everything in life there needs to be a balance and you can’t have something good without something bad coming out of it as well. Tar sand companies provide thousands of jobs for people across Northern Alberta and are also the reason why we are able to hop in our vehicles on a cold winter day instead of walking. Tar sand companies also contribute to the value of our dollar so without it, our money's worth wouldn’t be based on anything. For every tree they cut down, a new one is planted in its place and for every land that is destroyed when mining for oil, they reclaim the land and restore it back to what it originally was. Emily also talks about the weather being unpredictable because of the oil sands when really, the weather has always been unpredictable and the oil sands has nothing to do with that. It may alter it yes and cause sea levels to rise, but it does not affect the overall weather. Now one thing that Emily focused on was the city of Fort McMurray. Emily came to our city (for, mind you, ONE day,) and made a bunch of bias statements. First off she starts by talking about the amount of deaths that take place weekly on our main highway (63). Which although her information was accurate, it had nothing to do with the oil sands. Then proceeded to talk about how there is “so much” drugs and prostitution in our city when really, there is drugs and prostitution everywhere.