 |
But the staggering environmental impact of this dirty fuel boom extends well beyond the boreal forest. The massive amount of energy needed to extract, upgrade and refine tar sands oil generates three times the amount of global warming pollution as conventional oil production. In fact, global warming pollution related to tar sands development is projected to quadruple from 25 megatons in 2003 to as much as 126 megatons by 2015, the equivalent of putting 15 million new cars on the road. Even now, tar sands extraction is largely responsible for Alberta's rising levels of air pollution and is Canada's fastest growing source of global warming emissions.
Most Americans are unaware that fully 8 percent of our oil supply already comes from Alberta's tar sands -- at an unacceptable cost to our continent's boreal forest. To help get the word out, NRDC has invited other major environmental groups, local governments and airline authorities to launch the "Cool Fuels" campaign. In January, we sent letters to 15 major U.S. and Canadian airlines, as well as the Boeing Company, urging them to speak out publicly against the expansion of dirty fuels in North America and the use of these fuels by company aircraft, truck fleets and other vehicles. In addition, we called on them to advocate strong environmental controls and environmentally sound practices. These measures include improving fuel efficiency by means of better traffic control, routing and electric-aircraft towing, as well as fuel-saving airplane descent practices. We also urged them to reduce the carbon content of their overall fuel composition and to invest in the development of biofuels and other cleaner, renewable fuel sources. "The aviation industry is under tremendous pressure right now to cut harmful emissions and reduce its fuel bills," said Barratt-Brown. "By joining our campaign, they can be part of the solution instead of the problem."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most Americans are unaware that fully 8 percent of our oil supply already comes from Alberta's tar sands – at an unacceptable cost to our continent's boreal forest.
|
|
|
|
