This is an update to my previous blog, Calling Canadians to Urge Obama to Protect the World from Deadly Tar Sands Oil.
Climate Action Network Canada informs us that Europe strikes a blow against tar sands dirty oil in Alberta as follows:
The European Commission (EC) is “getting ready to finalize its Fuel Quality Directive, that seeks to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of transportation fuels.
In order to achieve this, the directive assigns different carbon-output values for different types of oil so that lower-carbon fuels can be prioritized.
Oil from the Alberta tar sands, being some of the dirtiest and most carbon-intensive on earth, were given a higher greenhouse intensity value than other fuels.
The Harper government has vehemently protested this decision, calling it ‘discriminatory’.“
Here is a video of a Speech by Fiona Hall MEP (ALDE ADLE) in response to the Harper government regarding the implementation of the Fuel Quality Directive, including an EU default value for tar sands and oil shale:
“Joe Oliver, Canada’s Natural Resources Minister, flew to Europe to try to convince the European Commission not to proceed with the directive, and to threaten a challenge to the World Trade Organization over ‘unfair’ trade practices.
His appearance in London was interrupted by protestors who offered Oliver an award for being the “greenwash propagandist of the year.”
On the bright side, all indications show that the EC will be standing by its decision, and will pursue reducing transportation emissions 6% by 2020.“
Please click here to read Climate Action Network’s response.
Also, please note that:
(1) “Alberta has some of the world’s largest reserves of oil but extracting it is incredibly energy intensive, polluting and leads to destruction of large areas of pristine wilderness.
(2) Other sources of fossil fuels that get a separate value from conventional oil are coal to liquid, gas to liquid, shale oil and plastic fuel.
(3) The proposal by the European Commission still needs to be approved by national governments in the coming months.”
So stay tuned!
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Calling Canadians to Urge Obama to Protect the World from Deadly Tar Sands Oil