Oil Sands Watch | Pembina Institute

 

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Two weeks after a parliamentary committee quietly cancelled its report on water and oilsands pollution, a new report reveals that oilsands development continues to create risks for communities downstream.

The proposed environmental assessment of the Enbridge Gateway oilsands pipeline falls short, according to an analysis released today by the Pembina Institute.

The federal government is out of step with leading thinkers on issues related to sustainability, energy and climate change, according to the results of a groundbreaking survey of more than 5,000 experts and government officials.

Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director of the Pembina Institute, says proposed future federal coal regulations are a "comitment in principle" that must be backed by a massive scale-up of government support for renewable energy, and a clear plan to reach Canada's 2020 climate target.

By Clare Demerse, Climate Action Network-Canada

A leaked memo to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty advised the minister to live up to a G20 commitment to phase out tax breaks to the companies that produce coal, oil and gas. With just four weeks left before the G20 summit in Toronto, it's time for Minister Flaherty and Prime Minister Harper to commit to a Canadian plan to end tax breaks to fossil fuel producers.

Apr 23, 2010

Oil sands regulator does not enforce toxic tailings rules


Syncrude is given a pass to delay liquid tailings clean up

One day after Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach announced he would "force an end to tailings ponds," Alberta's oil sands regulator, the Alberta Energy and Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), has approved plans for Syncrude that do not comply with Alberta's Directive 074 and would delay implementation of liquid tailings clean up by the oil sands company.

Apr 22, 2010

Pembina Institute opens Washington Bureau

With all eyes on U.S. energy and climate policy, Pembina introduces Director of U.S. Policy

With the Canadian federal government determined to tie Ottawa's climate and energy policy to Washington's, the Pembina Institute announced today that it has established an on-the-ground presence in the U.S. capital, with Danielle Droitsch as the U.S. Policy Director. 

The Pembina Institute responded to measures in Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s Budget Implementation Bill (Part 20, Environmental Assessment, Bill C-9) that empower the federal government to avoid full environmental assessment of oil sands development.

Mar 17, 2010

First ever report card on deep oilsands reveals significant room for improvement

Some in-situ environmental impacts as serious as mining

Today, the Pembina Institute released Drilling Deeper: The In Situ Oil Sands Report Card. It is the first comparative environmental assessment of in-situ oilsands projects. Scores among the nine Canadian operating projects surveyed showed an average score of 44 per cent, which demonstrates substantial room for improvement across the sector.

Mar 11, 2010

Pembina Reacts to Alberta competitiveness review

Albertans left out of the process, lose royalty revenue

Albertans, the owners of the province's oil and gas resources, were completely left out of the process of reviewing Alberta's royalty rates, says Chris Severson-Baker, Policy Director for the Pembina Institute.

Jan 18, 2010

Ignoring Oil Sands Impacts Undermines Pipeline Review

Proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline would result in a 30% increase in average daily oil sands output

Environmental assessment of proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline will ignore the impacts of increased oil sands production

Pembina’s policy proposal is market-based and would promote innovation in industry. By forcing polluters to pay, Albertans would protect Alberta’s environment while enabling our economy to grow 44 per cent over the next decade.

Pembina's climate change team will be in Copenhagen from December 6 to 18. Find out how to reach them, and how to access Pembina's resources for reporters covering the UN Climate Summit.

Dec 4, 2009

Pembina Reacts: Review Process Ignores Oil Sands Impacts

Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline review will not address impacts from increased production from the oil sands

In its environmental review of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline project, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will not be considering the major environmental impacts of the 30 per cent increase in average daily oil sands output that the pipeline will enable.

Dec 1, 2009

Only two oil sands operations set to meet rules to deal with liquid tailings

Volume of toxic tailings will increase to 1.1 trillion litres according to industry plans

A comprehensive review of regulatory documents suggests most oil sands mining operations will not comply with new rules to limit increases in tailings.

Nov 23, 2009

Federal Government Failing to Protect Fresh Water for Tens of Thousands of Canadians in Alberta and Northwest Territories

Canada Not Implementing Numerous Legal Obligations That Protect Fresh Water in Oil Sands

A new report identifies 10 areas where the federal government has failed either to enforce or implement federal law or to exercise its constitutional authority to protect water quality near the Oil Sands.

The Pembina Institute responds to a report from the Canadian Energy Research Institute that projects a return to rapid and accelerating growth in oil sands production in Alberta.

Proposed tailings approach would enable Suncor to meet the current ERCB tailings directive and could also enable the clean up of existing tailings waste.

Oct 20, 2009

Plafonnement et échange de crédits

Entreprises et organismes environnementaux tracent ensemble les grandes lignes du système

Dans une déclaration commune publiée aujourd’hui, un groupe unique d'industries et d'organismes environnementaux a annoncé l’élaboration des éléments clés pour un système canadien efficace de plafonds et d'échange de crédits pour les émissions de gaz à effet de serre.

In a joint statement released today, a unique partnership of industry and environmental organizations have outlined the key elements for an effective Canadian cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions.