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Oil industry effect on the environment
Oil sands of alberta the environmental problems
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Canada as a country has done much to help in the field of environmental sustainability. Additionally, Canada continues to develop more programs to decrease the detrimental impacts of humankind on the environment. Moreover, our government aims to recognize problematic activities, analyze their impacts on the future, and invest in recovery strategies.
Firstly, our nation is hoping to recognize environmental issues at an early stage because preventing their harmful repercussions is easier than future rehabilitation. Furthermore, one of the biggest environmental problems in Canada is the oil sands industry. Therefore, it raises significant revenue for the government; however, it also harms the air, water, and land ecosystems. Moreover, another
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Furthermore, Canada has participated in the Copenhagen accord, which is an agreement that joins tighter all major emitting countries that have agreed to reduce climate change. Moreover, Canada has also committed to investing $400 million in climate change efforts and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17% by the year 2020. Additionally, they have also designed some clean energy strategies to reduce the emissions given out by automobiles. Lastly, the government has also set aside a national stewardship fund that can be used by the board for renewable efforts and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources.
Overall, the government has much great progress in recognizing environmental issues, evaluating their impacts on our country and developing new strategies and findings to combat the issue. Although this appears to be a feat for the government, it is also seen as a huge opportunity for Canada to collaborate with other nations to improve the environment globally. Additionally, as the famous anthropologist, Margret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world in deed, it is the only thing that ever
The Alberta Oil Sands are large deposits of bitumen in north-eastern Alberta. Discovered in 1848, the first commercial operation was in 1967 with the Great Canadian Oil Sands plant opening, and today many companies have developments there. The Alberta Oil Sand development is very controversial, as there are severe environmental impacts and effects on the local Aboriginal peoples. This essay will discuss the need for changes that can be made for the maximum economic benefit for Canada, while reducing the impact on the environment and limiting expansion, as well as securing Alberta’s future. Changes need to be made to retain the maximum economic benefits of the Alberta Oil Sands while mitigating the environmental and geopolitical impact. This will be achieved by building pipelines that will increase the economic benefits, having stricter environmental regulation and expansion limitations, and improving the Alberta Heritage Fund or starting a new fund throu...
This article has stressed the importance of the early conservationist impulse in Canada. Gillis suggests the most important contribution of the entire controversy was made by anti-pollution advocates of government officials to research, investigate and regulate the dumping of waste. (100) Gillis believed that this decision led to a more activist government which would cater to the public interest in the future with a theme of the relationship of Canadians with their environment (natural, social and economic) which will lead to the development of the country in a period of national transformation. (101)
The New Democratic Party promises to improve the environmental situation that we are currently living in. Our current environmental situation is very important to maintain, or even make better, because if we continue on this path of pollution and accumulating green house gases, then the Earth's atmosphere will no longer be sustainable and we risk losing our precious planet. The NDP says that they will attempt to get rid of coal-based electricity. "Coal emits more carbon per unit of energy than oil, and 80 percent more than natural gas." (Green Energy) It is a good thing that the NDP are taking steps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are omitted into the air to save the environment. The NDP promises to invest in the production of cars with low emission rates and develop mandatory vehicle emission standards that must be followed in Canada. This will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide omitted from cars, which is a big source of pollution in the world. If the vehicle emission standards are mandatory, people will be forced to follow the standards and will have no choice, therefore resulting in l...
According to one government analysis, the crude from Canada’s oil sands will emit seventeen percent more greenhouse gas pollution than there processes used for conventional oil, making it even more controversial against environmentalists (Davenport par. 6). The concerns are reflected in great quantity of carbon in the tar sands, “Ensure that they will play an important role in whether or not climate change gets out of hand” (Clayton 2). In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A) noticed the impact it would have on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the E.P.A., “The recent drop in global oil prices might mean that contraction of the pipeline vault spur increased development of Canadian oil sands—and thus increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions” (Davenport par
Now, sustainable development and quality of life are crucial to the well being of our nation. Thus, I have pondered many a year on this very important matter and have consulted a very knowing Canadian of my acquaintance at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The amount of natural resources in this country being usually reckoned infi...
Canada; known for peacekeeping, multiculturalism and having one the largest ecological footprints in the world. What is an ecological footprint? The ecological footprint is a measurement of the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the activities in a person's daily life. One main source of greenhouse gas is burning fossil fuels. That includes the gas in a person's car and the coal burned at the power plant. Scientists have concluded that humans are producing more greenhouse gases than ever before. These gases trap heat in our atmosphere, causing our planet to warm up and changing our climate. The ecological footprint, therefore, measures the amount of potential impact a person's daily life has on the environment. By reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced by people's lifestyle, they can reduce the footprint and help slow climate change on Earth. Canadian's are starting to get accustomed to using a surplus amount of energy when it is never needed and throwing garbage on the ground because the trash can is too far away for them reach. Canadian's are also using up the little natural resources left on this planet for sustainability. Crops, oil, trees are being used so much, that there might not be enough for the future generations. Canada must realize that this is a situation that must be taken seriously and that must be executed properly by meeting the social, environmental and economical standpoints. To reduce the ecological footprint and to regain sustainability, there are many things Canadian's can do to change the current situation. Ecological footprints can be reduced by using alternative energy sources, reducing energy consumption and by using cleaner transport to reach destinations.
Canada ruled the 20th century through science and technology and advanced more than any other country in this time period. Prime Minister Laurier was correct when he stated in his speech “that it is Canada that shall fill the 20th century.” Technology and science were one of the huge factors for Canada being a successful country compare to the world. In technology and science, there were many inventions that were developed in Canada that wowed the world and made Canada feel incredible. Even though war is sad and cruel, the crazy need to survive and the confidence to strive for success has made Canada’s technology and science advance greatly. During the near closing point of the 20th century, Canada’s environment and living is being more advanced and they are thinking about the future generations to come.
Smith, C. (2009). How things work: Canada's oil sands. United Nations University, Vol.1, No. 110. Retrieved on December, 24, 2013 from
What does it mean to be a Canadian? What are the common values shared by the Canadian citizens? Denise Chong, who was an economic advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, delivered the speech “Being Canadian” during the Canadian citizenship week, 1995. She explains in this speech the importance of Canadian citizenship, the values shared by the Canadians and how to strengthen the Canadian values.
Canada is great economic superpower that has yet to reach its potential. As the second largest nation by area, we possess vast natural resources. We are a massive importer and exporter on the world stage, who a play a vital role in the stability of the northern hemisphere. Through Canada’s international trade, we export vast quantities of many different foods stuffs, minerals and manufactured goods like cars, while we tend to import lots of Iron, Aluminum and Steel. Our relations with neighbouring nations have been integral in the success of our trade. In 1994 Canada became a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA with the US and Mexico. NAFTA reorganized Canada’s and America’s trading systems to work as one. The trade issue of recent months is about the rising costs of energy in Canada and in the United States. Newly elected President George W. Bush now is proposing a North American energy initiative for a continental power grid. This proposal puts Canada in a very uncomfortable situation. On the one hand we would love to share our resources and appease our super-power to the south. But on the other we prefer to leave our pristine land alone. The growing trend nowadays is that politicians are the ones wanting to please the Americans by giving away our resources, while it is the activist who is concerned about the vast environmental damage this energy legislation could entail.
If I were the Prime Minister of Canada the environmental issue that I would focus on for the next five years is the biodiversity loss in Canada. Canada is the world’s second largest country in size, with 9.98 square kilometers and a population of 35 million people. A country that is so huge must also be rich in species? An estimated 14,000 species live in Canada, and only half have been identified. Canada is such a large country and so sparsely settled for the most part that it is very difficult to know and name every single species living in the country. This just gives you a glimpse of how naturally diverse the country really is.
If they are not following their rights to save the environment they can spoil their life or what they can tell to their future generations. For example- if they are using more private vehicles instead of the public ones, then these is creating more pollution which directly affects the air and when they inhale that air this will affect their health and environment too like depletion in the ozone layer. The one thing is affecting the two things human life and the environment. They need to keep their surroundings clean and have to promote or to use the system of 3R`s that is reduce, reuse and recycle. So that Canadians can spend their life in clean and healthy
Canada should not continue to log Canada’s forests because it is not sustainable. It cuts down every tree in a given area. This leaves not enough trees to regenerate themselves. On top of that, trees are not being planted after they are cut down, so the number of trees in Canada will decrease. The Earth was full of forests in the last century, and now 80% of forests have been cut down. This is a huge problem because trees provide a lot of oxygen, and if there are not a lot of trees, there won’t be enough oxygen produced. Since Canada’s population is increasing, there will be a need for more oxygen. If Canada continues to log forests the way that they are, there would not be enough oxygen. A solution to this would be to plant trees after they are cut down, to maintain the number of trees and forests
In conclusion, even though mining is an important aspect in the Canadian economy; are all the health risks and environmental risks worth it? Some who sees the immediate rewards of mining, such as money and status may say ‘yes.” However if we continue to over mine, one day we will not have things we use every day such as electricity. This might not happen in our lifetime but the future generations will be affected. Isn’t it ironic that the Earth has given us livelihood and sustains us; we in turn abundantly and viciously take from the Earth? The effects of taking too much will kill us. As my mother says “if you take, you need to give” My way of giving will be educating my generation and my peers who are the future.
Peace River Country has a continental climate with a low precipitation rate that reduces the local humidity and causes the hot summer and a cold winter feeling (Churcher & Wilson, 1979, p.71). Moreover, it has a series of pollutions like notably air and water pollutions that are affected by pollutant-inducing resources in the province of Alberta. There is an abundance of petroleum and gas resources in Alberta. On the one hand, these valuable resources promote and supports the local economy and the country`s GDP; on the other hand, it damages the surrounding environment. Because the major resources in Alberta are gas and petroleum, and these kind of resources are non-renewable, and the result translates into bad air and water quality in the local region. Also, as one of the more populous provinces in Canada, Alberta maintains numerous industries and develops lots of tar sand, which is a kind of bituminous sand that is formed from oil. This toxic waste of oil sand creates more greenhouse gas emissions, e...