In May 2021, environmentalists scored a stunning victory against big oil companies with potentially big implications for climate change, fossil fuel companies and the Canadian oil sands industry. A tiny American hedge fund, Engine No. 1, convinced shareholders of ExxonMobil…
How Tar Sands Affect Climate Change
April 23, 2021
What are tar sands?
Tar sands, also known as oil sands, are a fossil fuel deposit. They consist of sand, water, clay and bitumen – a thick type of oil.1 Canada’s oil sands are the largest deposit of crude on Earth.2
But, the oil sands industry is also highly…
Oil Sands Extraction: Methods, Processes and Effects
April 14, 2021
Canada’s oil sands are predominantly found in the western province of Alberta.1 There are three main regions: Athabasca, Cold Lake and Peace River.2
Collectively, they cover over 142,000 square kilometres (km2).3 That is larger than England’s total landmass.4 The current…
Oil Prices in Canada: How Do Oil Sands Affect Them?
April 9, 2021
Oil prices in Canada plunged to below zero on the 20th April, 2020. This means a historic low was reached.1 ‘Black April’ follows years of setbacks for the industry, ever since the international price of oil collapsed in 2014.2 In fact, with US President Biden revoking…
Oil Pipelines in Canada
January 29, 2021
Oil pipelines in Canada are an integral part of the country’s energy infrastructure.1 They are the safest and most efficient method of transporting large quantities of Canadian crude oil.2 But, they are also a divisive issue.
Environmentalists oppose pipeline…
Oil Sands Mining in Canada
October 13, 2020
If you visit the area around the Athabasca River in Western Canada, you will find two contrasting landscapes. Alberta is not only the home of the Canadian Rockies, but also Canada’s oil sands mining.
While these large reserves have been around for a significant amount…
Oil Sands: The Dark Side Of The Oil Industry
September 30, 2020
Developing oil sands means cooking the planet
NASA climate scientist James Hansen said that developing oil sands and other unconventional sources of oil would mean “game over for the planet”. After that, pro-oil sands politicians, industrialists and pundits became…
Canadian oil sands and its destruction
September 24, 2020
Ever wondered about how the Canadian oil sands are an environmental disaster? We’ve created a short infographic for you explaining how the Canadian oil sands and Alberta oil sands affect the environment and contribute massively to climate change and global…
Oil Sands Processing
August 6, 2020
Oil sands are a combination of sand, clay and water that contain a heavy crude oil variant called bitumen.1 But, this complex hydrocarbon is almost solid at room temperature and does not flow without extensive processing.2 Subsequently, there are two ways to extract the…