Actual Headline! - "Study Finds Oilsands Could Mitigate Climate Change"

[hatrack]

Of course, it's the National Post, so go figure.

OTTAWA -- It has been blamed as one of the big villains causing global warming, but a new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers has concluded that Alberta's oilsands could play a key role in saving the planet from the devastating effects of climate change. The consulting firm suggests Canada and other G-7 countries must take the lead to tackle global warming through various strategies to improve energy efficiency, increase use of renewable fuels and developing carbon capture and storage technology.

Under a "Green Growth Plus" plan, the firm estimates a 17 per cent reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions, thanks in part to geological formations in Western Canada that are suitable for storing carbon underground. "I think what's surprising about (the report) is the emphasis that carbon capture and storage has on the best scenario case and how Western Canada can actually help with climate change through carbon capture and storage," said Christine Schuh, Canadian climate change leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

With no strategy in place, Schuh said greenhouse gas emissions would double around the world by 2050. However, the green growth plan would require the G-7 countries to reduce their overall emissions by 51 per cent between 2004 and 2050, while the emerging economies of China, India, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey could increase their emissions by 29 per cent. Schuh said it would still allow for modest economic growth of about three per cent in GDP. "It will shift the economy around," said Schuh, based in Calgary. "I think what will happen is we'll have a more energy-efficient economy, and probably stimulate technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That could mean a carbon-restricted future."

Another study released Thursday by the David Suzuki Foundation had harsh criticism for the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments because of rising greenhouse gas emissions and a lack of action on climate change. While Saskatchewan has the highest greenhouse gas emissions proportional to its economy and population, Alberta represents the biggest threat because it produces the largest amount of emissions overall. "Both Saskatchewan and Alberta are at the bottom of the list, but it's pretty easy to argue that Saskatchewan is actually worse," said Dale Marshall, a climate change policy analyst at the foundation.

EDIT

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=705f4dd2-2e10-4969-8b1a-d837037aad4c&k=48233

[cosmik debris]

1. Please explain

What is the problem with using oil sands for carbon capture and storage?

[hatrack]

2. To begin with, the costs of oil sand exploitation are exploding

One of the major projects in the Athabascan (Phillips, I think it was) just went from $7 billion (CN) estimated to $11 billion, more than 50% above estimates, and given competition for/cost increases for materials (especially rubber and steel) this is a trend that is more than likely to continue.

Given that, who's going to come up with the capital for carbon sequestration? Suncor, Phillips et. al are more than likely to resist attempts to make them pay the freight, meaning that Canadian taxpayers are likely to be on the hook.

Beyond that, there's a more fundamental question - if the goal is carbon capture, wouldn't it make more sense to not dig up the tar sands, not fire up the boilers, not power the refineries, not truck the sands, not run the heavy equipment and - most of all - not burn the stuff in the tanks of cars and trucks. This proposal may work for capturing the gases/output produced in the mining process in situ, but considering that every gallon of gasoline burned produces 24 pounds of CO2, I don't see how they're going to counter the end product - GHGs - of their end product - synthetic oil.

It's rather like the proposal to inject CO2 in larger amounts than ever before attempted so that we can pump previously stranded oil in old fields so that we can burn that oil. I mean, seriously, if the goal is carbon capture, how the hell does that help?

[cosmik debris]

3. Thank you

I have a better understanding now.

[XemaSab]

5. Southern California Edison

is VERY interested in carbon sequestration. Also renewables.

[neoblues]

4. Well, if we dumped most of the world's oil INTO the sand...

and didn't burn it, we just might avert the global climate catastrophe we are about to witness. To explain, I meant something like just dumping on the desert of Saudi Arabia... but that too would result in problems--and make one hell of a mess.

Republican (and shrub) "thinking" 'bout Globle Worming:

-- No worries; (a) God'll Save Us--what's a destroyed planet matter when yer gonna be in Haeven ferever, (b) God'll clean up our mess after he gits thru killin' and destroyin' all them non-bleievers and pro-choice/stim-sell/evolutinist/queer sinners!

-- Hah! Ain't "Man's" fault... Besides, it's just a hoaks! Look at all them delewded people, all worried 'bout nuthin'.

-- If'n it happens--we kin fix it. We just build some big ol' carbin die-oxside absorbin' plants and suck it out of thuh atmosfere! No problemo!

-- Heck, if I gotta go, I gotta go--I know I'm goin' tuh Heav'n! But you, now yer gonna burn in Hell--see how that works... thuh Earth'll be Hell--after all, Hell'd haveta be expanded, right? Tuh hold all you friggin' evil librals! After th'way you all treated poor Miss Colter, y'all deserve it.

-- (hic) Pass me uh Cold Beer. Global warmin--if it exists, and it don't, it's just God's wrath 'cuz of all the lewd, imoral, libral corruptsion of our tradish'nal 'merican way-o life! You all just suck, ruining it all fer everbody!

-- Dam librals anyway. Dont have th' sense God gave a horse; cain't even reckognize a hot summer when they sees one.

-- C-O-2... Smee Oh Too... It's mostly just volcanos--and just the nat'ral "cycle". That's all.

-- No problem; got air conditioner, will travel.

-- Didn't God say he wuz gonna destroy the Earth or somethin? It's all in his plan; it's not nice to question Mother Nature.

I sure hope... that was an exaggeration.