Canadian oil sands compound their image problem
Emission pledges are being rolled back to counter adverse economic conditions, reinforcing a sense the sector is not serious about lowering its carbon footprint
The Canadian oil industry simply cannot shake the ‘dirty oil’ tag. The problem has contributed to an exodus of IOCs from Alberta’s oil sands, a growing financial boycott and opposition to new pipeline projects. In May, US presidential challenger Joe Biden vowed to kill Canadian midstreamer TC Energy’s 830,000bl/d Keystone XL pipeline project if victorious in November. "I have been against Keystone from the beginning,” Biden told a TV news interview. “It is tar sands that we do not need—that in fact is very, very high pollutant.” Critics point to rapidly rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the oil sands industry making it all but impossible for Canada to meet its Paris Agreement pledge
Also in this section
15 May 2025
Financial problems, lack of exploration success and political dogma cause uncertainty across much of the region
14 May 2025
The invisible hand of the market has seen increasing transparency but much more needs to be done to build a better understanding
13 May 2025
A fall in Venezuelan output drives overall production lower, as Saudi Arabia starts to slowly bring more crude to the market
12 May 2025
With the gas industry’s staunchest advocates and opponents taking brutal blows, the sector looks like treading a path of insipid indifference
