Oil Execs Fail to See the Big Picture

An executive for TransCanada, the company pursuing the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, recently stated that shutting down oil sands production “would have absolutely no measureable impact on climate change”.  By stating the percentage Canada as a whole contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, and what percentage of Canada’s total are created by oil sands, Alex Pourbaix claims the oil sands contribute one-tenth of 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Pourbaix claims there is no measureable impact of the oil sands then immediately proceeds to measure the impact.  While he cites a small number, what Pourbaix misses is that there is a number.  We are reaching the stage where any number of greenhouse gas emissions is too high of a number.  

The claim that production from the oil sands will not have a great effect on climate change fails to recognize the big picture.  There are many negative impacts from the oil sands other than just increased greenhouse gas emissions.  There is the waste of fresh water during the extraction process, the potential for water supply pollution in surrounding areas, or the negative aesthetic impact of production.  However, the largest impact the oil sands and associated projects, such as the Keystone XL pipeline, have is the continuing to say, “yes” to fossil fuel production.  Allowing one project, such as Keystone XL, can have the potential to open the floodgates for many more similar pursuits.  In order to combat climate change, we must move in a new direction of cleaner, more sustainable energy, not towards an expansion of current practices. 

What can you do?  Add your name to a petition to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline and to let TransCanada executives, as well as the U.S. government know that there are more concerns surrounding these projects than simply greenhouse gas emissions.  Or, continue putting direct pressure on President Obama to reject construction of the pipeline by contacting the White House.