Case Study Alberta Oil Sands

I am against developing the Alberta Oil Sands because of how it affects people’s health, there is a limited supply of it, and how it affects the environment. Firstly, the health of those who live around the Oil Sands is negatively affected. A study made by the Alberta Cancer Board in 2009 showed that people who lived about 250 kilometers away from a tar sands development were experiencing higher than normal rates of cancer (ForestEthics). This study indicates that there is a correlation between one’s health and the Oil Sands; the oil sands should not continue to be developed as this would only continue to harm people’s health. Secondly, there is a limited supply of oil. In total, global reserves have about 1.3 trillion barrels of oil, which is enough for 40 years of consumption based off the current consumption rate (CITATION?).
Thirdly, the Oil Sands harm the environment. The Alberta oil sands use extraction methods that are among the most carbon-intensive; the oil is so deep in the ground that special methods are used to extract it, which causes five to 15 percent more emissions (CITATION). By causing more emissions, this contributes to global warming, which is bad for the environment and should be avoided. In conclusion, I do not think that the Alberta Oil Sands should be developed because of the negative impacts it has on health, the low supply of oil, and the harm it causes on the