Tar sands Tar sands oil is the most devastating fuel in commercial production and should be blocked from the European market

Don’t cook the planet with tar sands, Canada told

15 May 2013

Canada's attempts to bully Europe into accepting oil from its highly polluting tar sands continued today when Canadian Minister of Environment Peter Kent made a speech in Brussels. 

Anti-tar sands campaigners from Friends of the Earth Europe and the UK Tar Sands Network were present outside the event. Dressed as chefs, they brought the message 'Don't cook the planet' and distributed materials about the harm caused by tar sands and Canada's record on climate change.

14 May 2013

Tar sands would be ‘game over’ for climate, leading scientist tells EU

Two leading climate scientists, Professors James Hansen and Mark Jaccard, explained the urgency of the climate crisis and called for strong action by the European Union, at an event in the European Parliament today.

The two are in Europe to reinforce the importance of accurate labelling of the most carbon intensive fuels under EU legislation, known as the Fuel Quality Directive.

The debate was hosted by GLOBE EU . European Commissioner for climate action Connie Hedegaard also spoke at the event

8 March 2013

Canadian First Nations leader brings 'stop tar sands' message to Europe

A leader of Canada's Indigenous peoples gave a dramatic eyewitness account of the environmental and social devastation associated with mining tar sands at the world's biggest tourism fair today.

Representatives from Canada's First Nations and Friends of the Earth Europe are at the Berlin ITB expo to protest about the destruction of Canada's natural environment and publicise the dangers of tar sands expansion.

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Tar sands oil is the most devastating fuel in commercial production today, producing three to five times more climate changing emissions than conventional fossil fuels. The pollution and deforestation from tar sands does irreversible ecological damage, kills wildlife and threatens indigenous communities.

The global development of tar sands will magnify the climate crisis, damage the environment and hinder development objectives. Yet European companies want to exploit tar sands deposits around the globe. Friends of the Earth Europe is working to stop all new tar sands projects and to prevent this harmful fuel entering the European market.

More resources

Tar sands - a threat to Europe, Africa and the world, Public Service Europe, 2 March 2012

Reports & publications

28 Jan 2013

Keeping their head in the sands: Canada’s EU Fuel Quality Directive lobby diary

1 Nov 2011

Locking up the Future: Unconventional oil in Africa

More reports & publications

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  • Darek Urbaniak
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