Intensity-based targets for the oil sands are inadequate

August 13, 2012

There has been a bit of talk in the media about adopting federal intensity-based greenhouse gas pollution standards for the oil sands: “The federal government is using Alberta’s greenhouse-gas emissions target – criticized as too accommodating to industry – as the launching point for a national oil and gas carbon policy, even as the province [...]

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Why ‘ethical oil’ may be an own goal

July 9, 2012

Don’t tell him, but I think Ezra Levant’s whole ‘ethical oil’ concept might be a psychological own goal for the people trying to promote the unrestricted growth of Canada’s oil sands. The intent of the campaign is to draw attention to ethical abuses connected to oil from sources outside Canada. For instance, the lack of [...]

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Peak oil is unlikely to solve the climate crisis

July 3, 2012

An interesting report released by Leonardo Maugeri (PDF) at Harvard’s Belfer Center argues that the world still has huge amounts of unconventional oil and that recent concerns about ‘peak oil’ are ill-founded: “My field-by-field analysis suggests that worldwide, an additional unrestricted supply of slightly less than 50 mbd is under development or will be developed [...]

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“Behind the Scenes of Conservation – Great Bear: Our Crucial Choice”

June 18, 2012

The World Wildlife Fund has put together a beautiful video showing some of what would be put at risk by the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline: For more information see: Canadiansforgreatbear.ca

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NRTEE report on climate policy

June 13, 2012

The National Round Table on Energy and the Environment has released a new report on Canada’s climate change policy: Reality Check: The State of Climate Progress in Canada In their summary of the report, they explain: Despite making progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Canada is not on track to achieve the federal government’s 2020 [...]

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Government interference in the Northern Gateway pipeline review process

June 2, 2012

Both the public statements and the actions of Canada’s federal government have served to undermine the independence and integrity of the ongoing review of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. Neither government ministers nor the prime minister have been shy about asserting that the pipeline is to be built regardless of the concerns of local residents [...]

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The oil sands can’t be sustainable

May 31, 2012

Disturbingly often, Canadian politicians describe how they intend to develop the oil sands “sustainably”. Whenever they do this, they demonstrate that they don’t especially care if they are expressing themselves in a sensible way or describing a cogent idea. It’s just a rhetorical way to try and respond to the concerns of environmentalists without actually [...]

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How the oil sands are like cancer

May 30, 2012

The Athabasca oil sands are like a tumour growing in a human body. A tumour is very successful in a certain way. These cells divide rapidly and can keep growing forever as long as they are provided with food and oxygen. Ultimately, however, a tumour grows to the point where it starts to threaten the [...]

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Mountain Justice activism in West Virginia

May 24, 2012

More civil disobedience against coal: Five people boarded an empty coal barge at the Quincy Docks operated by Kanawha River Terminals in Chelyan, W.Va. and locked themselves to the boat with a banner stating “Coal Leaves Cancer Stays”. The barge was immobilized for three hours, until police removed them by 1:00 pm. Those arrested were [...]

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Blocking coal trains in White Rock, BC

May 3, 2012

On May 5th, NASA climatologist James Hansen and others say they will be blocking BNSF coal trains from passing through White Rock, British Columbia. They say that they will be blocking coal trains only, allowing other freight and passenger trains to pass. Hansen has posted a letter (PDF) about this on his website, addressed to [...]

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