Tar Sands In Canada

Within Canada stretches one of the largest and healthiest intact ecosystems left on the planet- a Boreal Forest. It acts as a carbon sink, protects the endangered animals within it, and contains bodies of water that are unspoiled by pollution. Unfortunately, beneath the flourish of life was the dark discovery of tar sands. Tar, or oil sands are composed of sand, water, clay, and bitumen- a thick, dark, and heavy oil. Because of its viscosity, bitumen needs to be lightened with a mixture of hydrocarbons to transport it through pipes. The mining of bitumen began in 1719 when it was first discovered, and small extractions were attempted in the 1920s and throughout World War II. The first commercial bitumen mining began in 1967. and continued into …show more content…
The amounts of Greenhouse Gases, or GHG, (a carbon intensive energy) released from the development of tar sand has gone down by 39% since 1990 (Environment Canada), but still makes up 5% of Canada’s total contribution to Global Warming. With the development of reduction technology, processes like Slurry Hydrotransport, Paraffinic Froth Cleaning, and improved bitumen extraction with novel chemical additives, can be used to lower the amounts of GHG emission from the developmental process. The Alberta government also requires that the most up to date, economically feasible technologies be used for controlling the quality of air. Along with toxins being released into the air, certain acid-forming emissions (SO2, NOx, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, or PAHs) collect in bodies of water which are already being depleted for the continued development of tar …show more content…
The tar sands have a high negative impact on the environment due to its increased emissions of greenhouse gasses and carcinogens, while political backing for its extraction is weak at best. The foot in the door of other countries for Canada as well as massive income for the region are the driving forces in keeping the tar sand extraction project going strong. It is said that it is alright to use a less environmentally friendly method until a better option is discovered, but this is just the old way for twice the damage and more profit. It will be interesting to see how the next few generations, and presidents, address this and other concerns similar to it in terms of profitable versus environmentally moral-- like deforestation in South America, ocean overfishing in the Pacific and oil fracking in North