With its rich
forests, natural resources and neighboring oceans, environmental issues in Canada
are is burning issue.
There are many environmental problems in Canada and below you will find an overview
of the major themes that arise time and again.
Canada's Oilsands
One of the most controversial
environmental issues in Canada is the extremely high-carbon process of
extracting oilsands deposits found in Northern Alberta.
According to Environment Canada, the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions (responsible for climate change) is Canada's oil industry. In a report released in 2014, Environment Canada found that oil and gas now accounts for one-quarter of all of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Environment Canada, the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions (responsible for climate change) is Canada's oil industry. In a report released in 2014, Environment Canada found that oil and gas now accounts for one-quarter of all of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
Oilsands Pipelines
Much of the oil
extracted in Alberta's oilsands reserves is shipped by pipelines in a raw form
called “bitumen.” As oil companies look to expand their extraction operations
in the oil sands, they need to expand their capacity to ship the oil to global
markets.
There is an ongoing public debate about whether new pipelines should be built in Canada. Concerns include global climate change, pipeline leaks, First Nations treaty rights and oil tanker spills. One of the most high-profile pipeline debates has centered around the Keystone XL pipeline that would have shipped oil from the oilsands to refineries in the United States. On November 6, 2015, U.S. President Barack Obama officially stopped the Keystone pipeline from being built by stating he would not issue the necessary presidential permit.
The Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline has been proposed for nearly 10 years, but is also essentially dead after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to power on a promise to implement a ban on oil tankers on the north coast of B.C. The B.C.Supreme Court also ruled early in 2015 that the province of B.C. had failed to adequately consult affected First Nations.
TransCanada's Energy East pipeline would ship bitumen from Alberta to Quebec and Atlantic Canada and Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline would ship bitumen from Alberta to Burrard Inlet near Vancouver.
There is an ongoing public debate about whether new pipelines should be built in Canada. Concerns include global climate change, pipeline leaks, First Nations treaty rights and oil tanker spills. One of the most high-profile pipeline debates has centered around the Keystone XL pipeline that would have shipped oil from the oilsands to refineries in the United States. On November 6, 2015, U.S. President Barack Obama officially stopped the Keystone pipeline from being built by stating he would not issue the necessary presidential permit.
The Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline has been proposed for nearly 10 years, but is also essentially dead after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to power on a promise to implement a ban on oil tankers on the north coast of B.C. The B.C.Supreme Court also ruled early in 2015 that the province of B.C. had failed to adequately consult affected First Nations.
TransCanada's Energy East pipeline would ship bitumen from Alberta to Quebec and Atlantic Canada and Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline would ship bitumen from Alberta to Burrard Inlet near Vancouver.
Coal Exports
Canada is responsible for exports of
large amounts of coal. When it comes to global climate change, the continued burning of coal
is a serious concern because it is the largest source of
greenhouse gas emissions in the world, in-comparison to other fossil fuels. When burned, coal produces pollutants like mercury.
While coal exports are not accounted for in domestic reporting of greenhouse gas emissions; Canada is exporting greenhouse gas emissions to other countries like China, Japan and India. Canada also still uses coal to generate a small portion of its electricity,recently Ontario has already phased out coal use, and Alberta has committed to phasing out coal-fired electricity generation by the year 2030.
A major issue is the proposed expansion of coal export facilities on Canada's Pacific coast, which would export thermal coal from Wyoming's Powder Basin, creating both local pollution issues as well as the global implications of increased greenhouse gas emissions.
While coal exports are not accounted for in domestic reporting of greenhouse gas emissions; Canada is exporting greenhouse gas emissions to other countries like China, Japan and India. Canada also still uses coal to generate a small portion of its electricity,recently Ontario has already phased out coal use, and Alberta has committed to phasing out coal-fired electricity generation by the year 2030.
A major issue is the proposed expansion of coal export facilities on Canada's Pacific coast, which would export thermal coal from Wyoming's Powder Basin, creating both local pollution issues as well as the global implications of increased greenhouse gas emissions.
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