Why do we need tar sands

That could endanger the local orca population and risk oil spills. Behind the scenes, Taft says, there was immense pressure by the oil industry on Trudeau to get the pipeline built. Even if the Trans Mountain pipeline does go forward, Taft adds, it will take years to complete. All rights reserved. Environment Proof. This is the world's most destructive oil operation—and it's growing Can Canada develop its climate leadership and its lucrative oil sands too?

They contain a toxic slurry of heavy metals and hydrocarbons from the bitumen separation process. Stephen Leahy is a writer based in Toronto, Canada. Ian Willms is a photographer based in Toronto. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include new information and more complete responses from the oil sands industry.

Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country.

Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London.

Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. It's a coal-like substance that builds up in piles in refineries that process tar sands, and those petcoke piles pose major health risks to the communities that surround them. We're finding tar sands also produces air pollution, which increases incidences of respiratory illnesses and asthma in communities that live around these tar sand refineries.

No matter what Big Oil says, the United States does not need more tar sands. Neither does Canada. And you know, we've got new solutions that are cleaner for our communities and better for our climate. If the public rallies together, we can stop these dangerous, dirty projects, and protect our future for decades to come.

Yes, Trump has green-lighted the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Processing tar sands oil will mean more asthma and respiratory diseases, more cancer, and more cardiovascular problems. Many local communities are opposing the expansions. In Canada, the toxic burden on communities near the tar sands is already enormous. In addition to direct human exposure, oil contamination in the local watershed has led to arsenic in moose meat—a dietary staple for First Nations peoples—up to 33 times acceptable levels.

Drinking water has also been contaminated. The alternative is simple: we need to break our addiction to oil and fossil fuels. Oil sands operators must adhere to stringent regulations. Approvals from numerous regulatory agencies are required at every phase, from construction and operations to shut-down and reclamation.

Industry is also committed to providing a safe workplace for employees, contractors and communities. Energy sector provides for Canadians today as it looks to the future. What are the Oil Sands? Oil Sands History.