Global warming consequences of tar sands worse than believed
October 5th, 2009 by Jim JustNew research by Global Forest Watch Canada reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands operations are being significantly under-reported – and that governments and oil companies aren’t seriously trying to quantify the real climate impacts.
The report, ‘Bitumen and Biocarbon‘, says when boreal forest and peatlands are destroyed for tar sands development – mining of bitumen and construction of roads, pipelines and facilities - significant amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted. Peatlands are one of the world’s most important storehouses of soil carbon. The biological carbon stored in living and decaying plants is lost and won’t be replaced for thousands of years.
Canada is the leading source of US crude oil imports, accounting for approximately 23% of total imports. Over 99% of Canadian oil exports go to the United States. Canada’s horrific exploitation of tar sands is our responsibility.