Seriously? Dirtier oil? Dear friends, They’re at it again. The oil industry is starting to extract a new form of oil that experts claim is the dirtiest of all and could hurtle us towards runaway climate change. But this week, EU lawmakers could penalize the import of this oil, incentivizing the oil companies to just leave it in the ground. Big Oil is fighting them tooth and nail, so let’s show the lawmakers we’ve got their back. Sign now: Sign the petition As our planet hurtles towards a climate catastrophe, it’s inconceivable that Canada would start extracting an even dirtier form of oil that experts say produces three to four times the amount of greenhouse gasses as conventional oil. But that’s exactly what they’re doing -- and it could tip us towards runaway climate change. Thankfully, we’ve got a chance this week to put a giant barrier in their way. In days, European lawmakers could decide to penalize the import of this dirty oil, precisely because it’s so damaging. If they do, it could make the dirty oil too expensive globally to be worth extracting. But the Big Oil industry is, predictably, lobbying hard to stop them. EU President José Manuel Barroso likely wants to be on our side, but needs to see that millions of us have his back to stand up to the oil lobby. Let’s give him the backing he needs right now with a giant, global petition. When we reach 1 million, our voices will be delivered to Barroso’s headquarters in Brussels alongside a giant model of planet earth to remind Barroso just what it is we’re counting on him to protect. Sign and share with others now: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/eu_ban_dirty_fuel_a/?bxjYzbb&v=29552 The dirty oil Canada and other countries plan to extract is called “tar sands oil.” Its extraction has been called “the Most Destructive Project on Earth” by experts and environmental groups. That’s because the tar sands from which the oil would be extracted contain twice the amount of carbon dioxide as all the oil used globally in our history. The former chief of NASA’s climate science research team wrote in The New York Times, “If Canada proceeds, and we do nothing, it will be game over for the climate.” But for it to make sense for oil companies to extract this oil, it would have to be profitable for them, and that’s where the European regulators come in. Europe has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020. To do that, Europe requires suppliers of fuels (the people who would buy the tar sands oils) to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of their products, and right now the EU is considering a rule that would make clear that tar sands oil produces massive greenhouse gasses. If they adopt that rule, European fuel suppliers won’t want to buy it, the price could rise globally, and the market for it would shrink, creating every incentive for the oil companies to just leave it in the ground. In addition to the oil companies, Canada has already objected vigorously. They claim the rule would unfairly penalize Canada. But the rule would simply state the reality that tar sands oil is much dirtier than other oils and would penalize it accordingly in Europe’s scheme, wherever it comes from. Much of it is from Canada, but it comes from other places as well and the rule wouldn’t discriminate. A win here could set a global standard requiring the industry to cut emissions and prevent development of dirty tar sands oil everywhere -- even the massive Canada-to-US Keystone Pipeline could hang in the balance. Europe is now the front line against tar sands! If the decision-makers know we’re watching, they’ll think twice about caving to Big Oil. A victory here will be felt everywhere. Let’s demand the EU President and all the decision makers put the planet first! Sign here: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/eu_ban_dirty_fuel_a/?bxjYzbb&v=29552 Time and time again Avaaz members have galvanised to win major victories for our environment. We even pressured Europe into pushing forward new carbon-cutting aviation laws. Let’s come together once again and get our governments to withstand Canadian and Big Oil pressure to drink down their filthy tar oil. With hope, Jeremy, Emilie, Dalia, Ian, Ricken, Laura and the entire Avaaz team PS - Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue - local, national or global: avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917 SOURCES Game over for the climate (New York Times) nytimes/2012/05/10/opinion/game-over-for-the-climate.html?_r=0 Europe standing tall against a Rogue State (James Hansen) docstoc/docs/160614022/Europe-Standing-Tall-Against-a-Rogue-State-By-James-Hansen Canadas bloody oil (The Guardian) theguardian/commentisfree/2009/aug/24/climate-camp-canada-oil-tar-sands Why tar sands oil is more polluting and why it matters (Inside Climate News) insideclimatenews.org/news/20120522/adam-brandt-tar-oil-sands-canada-europe-low-carbon-fuel-directive-greenhouse-gases EU executive thwarts Canada lobby on oil sands (Financial Post) business.financialpost/2013/01/30/eu-executive-thwarts-canada-lobby-on-oil-sands/?__lsa=e5ce-0f4a Heavy lobbying over tar sands legislation (Engineering & Technology Magazine) eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/apr/tar-sands.cfm Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through transportation fuel policy (Pembina Institute) pembina.org/pub/2315 Support the Avaaz Community! 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Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 18:11:46 +0000
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