Tar sands

California backs EU plan for "dirty fuel" label

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Barbara Lewis – December 6, 2011

EU plans to slap a "dirty" label on fuels derived from Canada's huge oil sands reserves have received a boost from California, whose pioneering labeling scheme seeks to put consumers in the driving seat.

Canada sees huge export potential for its reserves of oil sand, which are among the world's largest, and has bitterly opposed EU plans it regards as a threat to future markets.

Corporations spending billions to prevent climate change action

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Mike De Souza – November 23, 2011

A handful of multinational corporations are "exerting undue influence" on the political process in Canada, the U.S. and other key nations to delay international action on climate change, alleges a new report released Tuesday by Greenpeace International.

The report documents a series of alleged lobbying and marketing efforts led by major corporations and industry associations, representing oil and gas companies as well as other major sources of pollution in Canada, the U.S., Europe and South Africa, which is hosting an international climate-change summit that begins next Monday.

Water experts worried over lack of Athabasca monitoring funds

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Shawn Bell – October 18, 2011

Prominent Canadian scientists have raised concerns over a lack of funding for water monitoring on the Athabasca River system, as the federal government pledges to cut spending while also promising increased environmental monitoring in northeastern Alberta.

Five scientists, all involved in either the federal or Alberta panels examining the health of the Athabasca River, sent a letter in August to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Peter Kent detailing their concerns that money and expert capacity will not be available to implement the monitoring needed for the region.

Feds highlight oilsands lobbying success

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Mike De Souza – August 29, 2011

The federal government described media reports about weakened Europe climate-change policies as a "leap forward" on work to protect Alberta's oilsands industry, internal documents obtained by Postmedia News have revealed.

The information was included in a document summarizing a March 2010 meeting between government officials, oil and gas industry executives, and Bruce Carson, a former top adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It highlighted media reports about the European Union backing away from stringent environmental standards targeting oilsands crude in order "to avoid further damage to ties."

Canada Right On Target, To Miss 2020 Emissions Targets

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T.J. Skolnick – August 17, 2011

According to Environment Canada’s peer-reviewed July report on Canada’s Emissions Trends [pdf], government action to date is not putting the country on track to meet the carbon emissions reductions it commited to in 2009.

A year and a half ago at the international climate talks in Copenhagen, the federal government committed to reducing emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels, by 2020. The report makes clear that the federal government’s existing measures do little and more closely resemble a carbon intensive business-as-usual development scenario.

Oilsands PR plan set by lobby group

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Mike De Souza – August 9, 2011

Natural Resources Canada says a powerful oil and gas industry lobby group was responsible for organizing a key meeting and some controversial messaging, in partnership with government, to polish the image of Alberta’s oilsands industry.

In newly released emails and internal records, department officials said the strategy to “turn up the volume” and get “the right attitude” on oilsands advocacy was actually proposed by high-ranking officials from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers during a March 2010 meeting involving senior federal and Alberta government officials, as well as CEOs from oil and gas companies.

Comprehensive environmental monitoring plan on deck for oilsands

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Kelly Cryderman – July 20, 2011

The federal government is set to announce Thursday a comprehensive environmental monitoring plan for the oilsands that will boost tests on water, air, animals and plants — and seeks to spruce up the international reputation of the massive bitumen resource.

According to government sources, the $50-million "integrated oilsands environment monitoring plan" developed by teams of scientists will spur increased scrutiny of everything from acidification in lakes to the health of fish — across provincial and territorial boundaries.

Canada tries to hide Alberta tar sands carbon emissions

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Greenhouse gas emissions from the tar sands are on the rise, but try finding that in Canada's official report to the UN

Suzanne Goldenberg – June 1, 2011

Barely a day goes by it seems when someone from Stephen Harper's government is not touting the benefits of the Alberta tar sands. But when it came to counting up the carbon emissions produced by the tar sands - big and growing bigger - a strange amnesia seems to have taken hold.

The Canadian government admitted this week that it deliberately left out data indicating a 20% rise in emissions from the Alberta tar sands when it submitted its annual inventory to the United Nations.

Madagascar fears repeat of Canada's tar sands devastation

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Tom Levitt – June 1, 2011

UK banks are helping to finance oil giant Total's exploitation of tar sands on the world's fourth largest island despite lack of adequate environmental controls or regulation.

Plans to extract oil from tar sands deposits in Madagascar, including one partly inside a UNESCO World Heritage site, have been condemned by an alliance of environmental and human rights groups in the country.

Feds considered hiring PR firm to polish image of oilsands

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Mike De Souza – May 30, 2011

The federal government has explored hiring a professional public relations firm and organizing trips for international leaders to promote Canada's oilsands industry, while fighting back against foreign climate change policies requiring it to reduce its pollution, a newly released federal document has revealed.

The action plan, prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, also suggested hosting an "annual retreat" of its oilsands advocacy team in London to plan a strategy to help boost the image of the industry that has developed an international reputation, as a result of campaigns launched by environmental groups, for producing "dirty oil."

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