Rethinking the narrative on oilsands and green initiatives

Researchers unveil how Canada's largest oilsands entities have skewed the public's understanding of their environmental footprint, according to a new study in Energy Research and Social Science.

Carl Meyer reports for The Narwhal.

In short:

• The Pathways Alliance's promotional strategies have been critiqued for obscuring the real environmental impact of the oilsands, particularly concerning carbon emissions.
• Despite claims of moving toward net-zero emissions, the study argues that the Alliance's plans might allow for increased emissions in the near term.
• Criticism includes a lack of transparency on the costs and the amount of government funding needed for their proposed carbon capture and storage network.

Key quote:

"Their messaging omits important information, uses misleading framing and comparisons, and fails to meet standards expected of a credible net-zero plan."

— Study findings

Why this matters:

Oilsands mining involves clearing vast stretches of land, often disrupting delicate ecosystems and habitats. However, companies have sometimes minimized the scale of this disruption in their reports and communications, masking the true environmental toll.

Peter Dykstra: We just can’t quit fossil fuels, can we?