IB ESS HL A 3 Environmental Justice and Lobbying Questions

Opponents say tar sands produce three times more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels; fossil fuels are burned to heat extraction water; underground carbon stores become available; oil produced is burned; boreal forest is cut down; wildlife is displaced or dies; only 10% of water taken from the Athabasca River is returned; toxic waste ponds may leak into river and groundwater; indigenous people may be displaced and face health impacts. Supporters say tar sands improve energy security for Canada and the USA; Canada supplied much crude oil to the USA; Keystone XL may create jobs; companies reinvest in carbon capture and storage; 7.5 million trees have been replanted.

Writer A states that mining infrastructure has cleared 30000 ha of forest and that 300000 ha more could be cleared, describing the industry as a major carbon dioxide emitter. Writer B states that surface mining has affected 0.1% of Canada’s boreal forest and that Alberta oil sands projects account for less than one-tenth of one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Suggest the role that non-governmental organizations could play in reducing the impact of the tar (oil) sands mining industry.