The oilsands underlie approximately 140,000 square kilometres of the boreal forest in northern Alberta and are the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. While oilsands production has expanded rapidly in the last decade, government policies and regulations have failed to keep up, creating serious challenges in managing the environmental, social and economic impacts.
Our goal is to advance responsible oilsands development, which we define as:
- capping the impacts of oilsands development within the limits of what science shows the ecosystem can support;
- shrinking the environmental footprint of oilsands development for every barrel produced; and
- ensuring a meaningful portion of the benefits of oilsands development are used to support Canada's transition to a clean energy future.
Our work
See our recent oilsands-related publications, and get Pembina Institute's perspective on the latest oilsands news by reviewing our blogs and op-eds.
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Two years ago the Pembina Institute released Solving the Puzzle — our report outlining 19 oilsands policy solutions aiming to protect air, forests, wildlife and fresh water, along with a credible approach to reducing greenhouse gas pollution and establishing a world-class environmental monitoring system. Given the intensifying scrutiny on management of the oilsands, it is worthwhile to evaluate the extent to which the urgently needed policies to responsibly develop the oilsands have been implemented. With project approvals continuing to outstrip progress on environmental rules, it’s more important than ever that the Government of Alberta complete the necessary steps to manage the pace and scale of regional and climate impacts. Here we evaluate progress on implementing the solutions presented in Solving the Puzzle, noting three categories: Substantial progress, Moderate progress and Limited progress.
Published April 29, 2013
A review of key facts in the oilsands debate This report examines some common claims about the environmental performance of oilsands producers and the environmental impacts of oilsands production. Many of the claims included in this document are not false, but they selectively present information to minimize the negative impacts of oilsands production or overstate the positive strides that industry or governments have made toward addressing those impacts. The information presented draws on independent research, public information and expert analysis to put key facts about oilsands production in their proper context. Download: Report | Backgrounder
Published Jan. 28, 2013
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