Kiera Jefferson
Tar sands are vast oil fields and mines in the Canadian province of Alberta, on lands where Indigenous communities have lived since time immemorial. The production of oil from tar sands has become one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. The extraction and production of tar sands oil have been linked to environmental degradation, deforestation, and increased pollution in the air, water, and soil, posing risks to both human health and ecological biodiversity. The expansion of tar sands development and the construction of pipelines to transport the oil have sparked resistance from Indigenous communities and environmental advocates, who are concerned about the potential impacts on their land, water, and way of life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Greenhouse gas emissions | 30% higher than conventional oil |
| Amount of water used | Enough to rival what a small city uses daily |
| Environmental impact | Boreal forests cleared or degraded, water levels strained, chemical runoff pools, air pollution |
| Health impact | Potential health risks to downwind Indigenous communities |
| Wildlife impact | Threatens migratory birds, caribou, bears, wolves, and endangered species like the whooping crane and San Joaquin kit fox |
| Oil spill risk | Existing pipelines have experienced serious leaks and spills, with one incident in Michigan resulting in almost one million gallons of tar sands oil spilled |
| Petroleum coke production | A hazardous byproduct that is sent to residential areas |
| Air pollution | 20-64 times higher than industry-reported figures |
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What You'll Learn
- Tar sands produce up to 64 times more air pollution than the industry-reported figures
- The production of tar sands oil requires massive amounts of water
- Tar sands oil is heavier than crude oil and sinks in water, making spills harder to clean up
- The Canadian tar sands industry is the largest and fastest-rising source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada
- The tar sands industry has destroyed the environment and communities in Alberta, Canada
Tar sands produce up to 64 times more air pollution than the industry-reported figures
Tar sands are vast oil fields and mines in the Canadian province of Alberta, and they are the fourth-largest oil deposit on Earth. They are also one of the most energy- and water-intensive to produce. The tar sands are a key culprit behind Canada's oil and gas sector being the largest and fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. The sector's carbon footprint is greater than New Zealand and Kenya combined.
The extraction of tar sands oil involves digging up and flattening forests to access the tar-like bitumen mixed with sand that is mined from underneath the boreal forest. This has led to the clearing or degradation of nearly two million acres of boreal forest since the year 2000. It has also threatened the habitats of migratory birds, caribou, bears, wolves, and endangered species like the whooping crane.
The production and transportation of tar sands oil have resulted in significant air pollution. A recent study found that air pollution levels from tar sands operations in Alberta are up to 64 times higher than industry-reported figures. This has raised concerns about the potential health risks to nearby Indigenous communities, who have long expressed worries about the impact of air pollution on their health and the environment.
The transportation of tar sands oil also poses risks. The use of aging pipelines and rail transport has led to several spills and leaks, contaminating water supplies and damaging ecosystems. Tar sands oil is heavier and stickier than crude oil, making it difficult to clean up conventional technology. The expansion of tar sands development is expected to increase the frequency and severity of these incidents.
The pushback against the tar sands industry has been significant. Approximately 150 nations have signed a treaty against tar sands expansion, and Indigenous-led groups are resisting pipelines that would cross their lands without consent. Despite this, the Canadian government continues to support the industry, and companies are racing to expand their operations, bringing their business into the United States as well.
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The production of tar sands oil requires massive amounts of water
Tar sands are vast oil fields and mines in the Canadian province of Alberta, where Indigenous communities have lived for generations. The production of tar sands oil is a highly destructive process, both for the environment and for these local communities.
One of the key issues with tar sands oil production is its intensive water usage. Getting the oil from deep underground to the surface requires a massive amount of water—comparable to the daily water usage of a small city. Even more water is needed to refine the oil into a usable product. This water usage puts a strain on water levels in nearby rivers, which are also at risk of industrial contamination and deadly oil spills.
The water used in the production of tar sands oil is not the only environmental concern. The process also emits a broad range of pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and intermediate and semi-volatile organic compounds (I/SOVs). Air pollution levels over Alberta's tar sands are reportedly much higher than industry-reported figures, raising concerns about potential health risks for nearby Indigenous communities.
In addition to air pollution, the development of tar sands has wreaked havoc on the local environment, with companies clearing and degrading nearly two million acres of boreal forest since the turn of the millennium. This destruction of forest and topsoil has put wildlife at risk, including migratory birds, caribou, bears, wolves, and endangered species like the whooping crane.
The transportation of tar sands oil also poses significant risks. Existing pipelines are aging and prone to leaks and spills, threatening vital waterways and water sources. Tar sands oil is particularly problematic in the event of a spill, as it sinks and cannot be cleaned up with conventional technology. The expansion of tar sands development and the transportation of oil by rail increase the chances of a catastrophic spill.
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Tar sands oil is heavier than crude oil and sinks in water, making spills harder to clean up
Tar sands, also known as oil sands, are a type of non-conventional oil deposit found throughout the world. They are a mixture of sand, clay, other minerals, water, and
The oil sands industry has been a significant contributor to the increase in Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. The amount of climate-polluting greenhouse gases emitted per barrel of tar sands oil can be 30% higher throughout its life cycle than conventional oil. The carbon emissions from oil-sand crude are 31% higher than from conventional oil.
The development of tar sands has wreaked havoc on the environment and communities in Alberta, Canada. It has led to deforestation, destruction of wetlands, and contamination of water supplies. The industry has also impacted Indigenous communities, with pipelines crossing their lands without consent and threatening their drinking water.
The expansion of tar sands development deepens the climate crisis and puts air, water, and wildlife ecosystems at risk of industrial damage and deadly oil spills. The production of tar sands oil results in a hazardous byproduct, petroleum coke or petcoke, which is sent to residential areas and poses health risks to nearby communities.
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The Canadian tar sands industry is the largest and fastest-rising source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada
Canada's oil and gas sector is the country's largest and fastest-rising source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 26% of the national total. Within this sector, the tar sands industry is a key contributor to emissions. Between 1990 and 2018, tar sands production increased by 456%, and the industry's carbon footprint is greater than that of New Zealand and Kenya combined.
The tar sands industry's high emissions are due to the energy-intensive nature of extracting and processing the oil. Tar sands oil is a thick, heavy, tar-like form of petroleum mixed with sand, which is mined from underneath the boreal forest in northern Alberta. The process of extracting the oil uses massive amounts of water, enough to rival the daily usage of a small city. Even more water and energy are needed to refine the oil into a usable product.
The environmental impact of the tar sands industry extends beyond greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional food sources for locals, such as waterfowl, are becoming more scarce and polluted due to oil sands developments. The industry has also led to deforestation and the degradation of nearly two million acres of boreal forest since the year 2000. Boreal wetland ecosystems play a crucial role in trapping carbon, so their destruction further exacerbates the climate impact of the tar sands industry.
The transportation of tar sands oil poses additional risks to the environment. Tar sands oil is heavier and stickier than conventional crude oil, making it more challenging to clean up in the event of a spill. Existing pipelines transporting tar sands oil are aging and prone to ruptures, which can result in spills that contaminate waterways and natural habitats. The proposed expansion of pipeline infrastructure, such as the Keystone XL pipeline, threatens to increase the risk of spills and negatively impact vulnerable species and ecosystems.
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The tar sands industry has destroyed the environment and communities in Alberta, Canada
The tar sands industry has wreaked havoc on the environment and communities in Alberta, Canada. Tar sands are vast oil fields and mines in the Canadian province of Alberta, where the oil industry has left a painful scar on the Earth. The extraction process uses massive amounts of water and energy, and the climate-polluting greenhouse gas emissions per barrel of tar sands oil can be up to 30% higher than conventional oil throughout its life cycle.
Canada's oil and gas sector is the largest and fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, with a carbon footprint greater than New Zealand and Kenya combined. The industrial development and wildfires in the tar sands region have degraded nearly two million acres of boreal forest, and the destruction of wetlands puts migratory birds, caribou, bears, wolves, and endangered species like the whooping crane at risk.
The air pollution levels over Alberta's tar sands are much higher than industry-reported figures, according to researchers, raising concerns about potential health risks to nearby Indigenous communities. Traditional food sources for locals, such as ducks, are becoming more scarce and polluted due to oil sands developments. The oil industry has also impacted the water supply, with nearby riverbeds straining under industrial use and chemical runoff pooling in massive toxic lakes.
The expansion of the tar sands industry threatens to further harm the environment and communities. Several major oil and gas pipelines, such as the Trans Mountain Expansion, have been proposed or constructed without the consent of Indigenous communities, threatening their drinking water and increasing the risk of oil spills. The transportation of tar sands oil by rail has also proven dangerous, with "bomb trains" jumping tracks and contaminating water supplies.
The tar sands industry's destructive impact on the environment and communities in Alberta, Canada, is undeniable. From the degradation of forests and wetlands to the pollution of air and water, the industry has left a lasting scar on the region. The expansion of the industry threatens further harm, and it is crucial that the potential risks and impacts are addressed to protect the environment and the well-being of communities, especially Indigenous peoples, in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Tar sands produce a lot of pollution. The air pollution levels over Alberta’s tar sands are many times higher than industry-reported figures, according to researchers.
Tar sands produce air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution.
Tar sands produce air pollution through the emission of a broad range of pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and intermediate and semi-volatile organic compounds (I/SOVs).
Tar sands pipelines have experienced serious leaks and spills, contaminating water supplies.
In northern Canada, mining operations are digging up and flattening forests to access the tar sands oil below, destroying wetlands and putting wildlife at risk.
