Tar Sands Tradeoff: Plentiful Petrol vs. Planet in Peril

The case for building the Keystone XL Pipeline is simple. It's founded on the paradigms of the oil-driven world we've created: we have access to an energy source we know how to use well; it's available from an ally; it's affordable.

The case against constructing the pipeline -- which would carry oil from the tar sands of Canada to refineries in Texas -- is more about an uncertain, but increasingly frightening, future. Why should we, one could argue, spend $7 billion to further accelerate climate change and likely contaminate one of America's largest underground water reserves?

The two sides are presented well in this interview with environmentalist Bill McKibben and Robert Bryce.

Oil is energy comfort food. Living in a post-9/11 world, with a horrible economy and climate change breathing down our necks, it feels good to know we can build a ginormous pipeline, pump some high-carbon oil out of sand and keep living the dream. But it lies completely at odds with our own survival. The parallels to addiction are uncanny.

Unfortunately, those of us who would prefer to keep the climate from going any more haywire than necessary have more than just the pipeline to contend with: there is now talk that the tandem of North & South America will become the center of the oil-producing world -- AND QUICKLY! We're talking five- to ten-years kind of quick! There may be three times as much oil in the Americas as there is in the duo of north Africa and the Middle East.

I suspect that, as Rome is burning, our modern-day Neros will be even more persistent in their cries of "DRILL, BABY, DRILL!"

This What on Earth? comic strip has a companion cartoon at ScienceFriday.com. Check it out!

 

Comments

[Bullitt08]

07:47 PM on 10/11/2011

Once again, the only question is whether the Canadian oil will be consumed in the United States or China. It will be extracted from the oils sands regardless.

If we get the oil, it will be transported and refined in compliance with stringent EPA and state regulations. If China gets it, they will foul the air, water, and ground.

[Richard2]

08:46 PM on 10/07/2011

Carbon based fuels are the basis for most of the energy that powers the modern world. The U.S. is currently consuming oil from Canada. Has anyone noted a major negative impact on the climate from this existing flow of oil from Canada to the United States through the existing Keystone pipeline? There is a high demand for the Canadian oil from all over the world. Should it be consumed near where it is produced, or shipped to China, where it will be used. That is the only real choice here. Do we want additional access to a reliable source of oil from a neighboring, friendly nation, or do we want to remain dependent upon nations far away that are less reliable and less stable than Canada?

[Neil Wagner]

12:12 PM on 10/08/2011

As my post states, the Americas may have much more oil than other parts of the world, so this one pipeline may not be the issue with regards to energy independence. But I believe it IS an issue in that we are making a major commitment to continue warming the climate. The motivation to build Keystone XL is real and easy to understand. As painful as it is to not build the pipeline — and I don't use the word "painful" lightly — it's time to make a very difficult decision and not build this project. We know enough to realize building this is tantamount to saying, "screw the long-term survival of the human race, screw the likely devastating impacts in the coming decade and beyond, the current economic needs of this generation of decision-makers is what matters."

[Peter Gas]

12:01 AM on 10/07/2011

Obama if you want to create jobs, if you want a strong America, if you want energy security; build this pipeline!

[Neil Wagner]

10:35 AM on 10/07/2011

What is your stance on man-made global warming? If you believe we are changing our climate do you believe it's a serious issue? If you believe it's serious, what is your view of the balance of the pipeline's economic benefits vs. environmental damage?

[aloysiusokon]

01:28 AM on 10/08/2011

what's your view on Americans driving cars to go to work and to school every day? I need to have SOMETHING in my tank! Better it come from Canada than the Middle East!

[Michael P Jones]

07:30 PM on 10/09/2011

Peter, this is still a foreign country, Canada! It will not provide energy
independence, it will not make America strong, but keep us weak by importing over 50% of our oil! Thelong jobs it creates is only in the hundreds, better create real jobs heree in the United States with clean energy and not investing our limited funds on this monster.

[Badgersouth]

06:54 PM on 10/05/2011

Suggested reading:

"Tar Sands Impact on Climate Change," Skeptical Science, Aug 23, 2011

http://www.skepticalscience.com/tar-sands-impact-on-climate-change.html