(August 17, 2009) Washington – America’s farmers and ethanol producers have been blamed for changes in how land is used all across the globe. Petroleum exploration and exploitation, by comparison, has gotten a free pass. No greater evidence of this can be found than in the tar sands of Canada.

"We must not only count petroleum's carbon emissions today, but also the carbon emissions and land use impacts of petroleum exploitation in the future," said Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen. "The goal of reducing greenhouse gases must take a long term approach. Replacing petroleum with cleaner fuels such as ethanol is necessary not only to meet reduction goals in the near term but to fully transition this nation to a low carbon economy."

From the Say What? Files:

“To date…ARB staff has only identified one indirect effect that generates significant quantities of GHGs: land use change effects (for biofuels).”
– CARB Proposed Regulation to Implement the LCFS

Alberta tar sands tailing pond
Source: Environmental Health Perspectives
  

Source: National Geographic / Peter Essick