Oooh! Big Scary Numbers!
If the estimated 1.1 trillion barrels of recoverable fuel [from tar sands and oil shale] in Canada and the US were extracted, it would release 980 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, it is claimed. This could push atmospheric CO2 levels well past the point believed to trigger dangerous climate change and mass extinction of species.
*yawn*
1. Global oil production/consumption is currently 80 million barrels a day, so 1.1 trillion barrels* (they appear to be using the US trillion = 1,000,000,000,000*) is ... er ... enough for another 37 years global demand. So even if it were economically viable, this C02 is not all going to be released at once.
2. Burning one barrel of oil generates roughly three times its weight in CO2. 1 Barrel = 127 kilos = 380 kg CO2, I dunno where the other 510 kg CO2/ton come from, but hey ...
So ... is the End Of The World now more or less imminent? Do you worry more about Global Cooling or about the oil running out? Or neither?
Might As Well Get Them Some Hugo Boss Uniforms, Rowley...
53 minutes ago
3 comments:
Neither, but you seem to have missed the fact that Tar sand oil extraction and processing is very energy hungry, as opposed to drilling.
Perhaps, you know, with all that extra plant-food in the air, plants might eat more?
Would be good news for bees though. Apparently they are suffering in the cold.
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