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TechnoratiGreenhouse Emissions From Oil Sands Underestimated: Report
VANCOUVER - Alberta's oil sands are emitting more greenhouse gas emissions than previously known by not calculating the impact of using forest and peatlands for production, according to a new report commissioned partly by Greenpeace.
![[Greenpeace activists place a banner and block a tar sands mining operation at the Shell Albian Sands outside of Fort McMurray, Alberta September 15, 2009. (REUTERS/Colin O'Connor/Greenpeace/Handout)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/tarsandsclimatecrime.jpg "tarsandsclimatecrime.jpg")
The research conducted by Global Forest Watch found that industry and the government are underestimating how much greenhouse gas emissions are coming from oil sand production by nearly a quarter. Official estimates don't account for carbon released as forest cover is cut and peatlands disturbed, the report says.
Peter Lee, the author of the report, which was funded by three non-profits including Greenpeace, said peatlands, as thick as five metres in some areas and a source of major carbon storage, are a critically important component in the ecosystem as are the boreal forests.
The industry says oil sand facilities release about 36 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent every year.
In more than four decades of oil production starting from 1964, nearly 685 square kilometres of boreal forest has been surface-mined, and 30 per cent of that is pure peatland, according to the report.
"We had aerial shots and measured what the original natural ecosystem looked like and then looked at satellite images to measure the existing disturbances and from that we could subtract how much peatlands have been destroyed," Lee said Friday.
Over the next few decades, Lee said up to 5,000 square kilometres of boreal forest is forecast to be transformed into oil production. That indirect impact has not been accounted for by either industry or the government, said Lee.
Syncrude Canada Ltd., one of the largest producers in Alberta, began reclamation efforts of forests and peatland five years after starting production in 1978, said spokeswoman Cheryl Robb.
Robb said Syncrude has reclaimed 25 per cent of the land the company has "disturbed" for a total of more than 4,600 hectares.
Don Thompson, president of the industry association Oil Sands Developer Group based in Fort McMurray, said both direct and indirect emissions are accounted for by producers.
"Yes, oil sands do clear forests but then they reclaim it again," said Thompson. "Peat and soil are not destroyed. They are saved and reused for reclamation."
Christy Ferguson, Greenpeace's climate and energy coordinator, said Friday governments and companies are working hard to downplay the environmental impact of tar sands operations.
7 Comments so far
Show AllThe tar sands will only be extracted as long as it is economically viable to do so.
The day is fast approaching when the oil companies and Alberta government will no longer be willing to subsidize the wholesale destruction of the environment in the area.
Unfortunately, the parties involved will simply abandon the area when the jig is up, leaving thousands of hectares of northern forest and peatland in a sad state while they flee south.
I can not believe it took so long for this fact to be recognized. That area is miles of peat bogs in every direction.
As to reclamation it a farce to suggest that what they call reclamation is anywhere near the natural state. You cannot "store peat" and just lay it down again.
I am reminded of that "Industry spokesperson" who claimed "There no scientific evidence that logging the sides of mountains leads to increased risks of landslides".
Thats good, a report by an unbiased, uniterested party is far better than one by a company that is trying to advance their own agenda.
Typical to deny that they are doing any damage. Only fools believe that the companies are telling the truth.
It boils down to whether each individual will allow him/herself to partake in the deadly opiates dispensed by elite pushers or resist them. It's very simple. After the recent eight year reign of monsters in the USA not even the people are wearing clothes any more. Everyone's role is well-understood. Either we're part of the problem or we're part of the solution. Increasing mpg from 20 to 25 isn't going to cut it. As the elites deplete the cleaner oil reserves they turn to the dirtier reserves which carry an increased burden on the planet either through production/processing loads or pressure on emissions standards, or both. The centerpiece of the elites' agenda is consumption growth, or economic growth. Knowing this allows us to predict their actions with great reliability. We don't need greenpeace (mentioned three times in the article) to correct all of the myriad problems created by elites. We simply need to stop partaking in the deadly opiates. We have to stop our exchange/association with elites, and shift it toward our local communities, bringing the political/economic power back home where it belongs. We have to decrease our energy demands and we have to demand the product of human and other renewable/sustainable energy instead of fossil/nuke.
"They" remain totally committed to looting every last drop of our natural resources.
There are current plans under review to drill for natural gas in the Catskill Mountains of upstate NY. For this to be even considered is chilling. The Catskills supply NYC with their water, for one. Though I disagree with NYC Mayor Bloomberg on many issues, I have to give him credit for one thing. He is truly a believer in protecting the environment. Hopefully he'll be able stop it, for now. The bastards always eventually get their way.
Years ago, some elites were proud to be connected to philanthropical causes for the greater good. Protecting wildlife and the landscape was as important to them as their bloated bank accounts. Not any more. Their kids, the ones in this generation are brain damaged. They fight for unfettered access to drill, poison, blow up, shoot, and strip bare every form of life for their personal wealth. Our bought off rulers are happy to oblige them, too. So, it's full speed ahead.
Isn't Sarah Palin's next book going to be titled "Drill, Baby, Drill" ?