Athabasca oil sands

Question 1

Where are the athabasca oil sands?

Answer 1

Canada

Question 2

What are the environmental impacts of the Athabasca oil sands?

Answer 2

• Gas emissions: carbon intensive (3x as much CO2 as conventional oil production); air pollution (CO; SO2; particulates) > impacts human health/acid rain
• In-situ open pit mine > deforestation of boreal forest > 5000km2 for mining; 137 000 km2 for pipelines/access
• Impacts of distribution: mainly pipeline to Gulf of Mexico oil refineries - e.g. Keystone pipeline (see above boreal forest clearance)

Question 3

What are the human welfare (social/economic/political) impacts of the Athabasca oil sands?

Answer 3

Creation of jobs > in-migration > expansion of temporary foreign worker programmes which exploit non-citizens/ housing shortages

Question 4

What are the benefits of the Athabasca oil sands/tar sands more generally?

Answer 4

Canada is the largest exporter of oil to the US > improves geopolitical relationships/energy security (Canada and USA)
Source of jobs and economic growth