Thanks to Alberta’s tar sands and shale deposits in the US, North America is emerging as one of the world’s strongest oil producers. We are increasing our energy security – control of crude grants tremendous power over other nations. One thing I like is that if we can stop buying from the middle east it will cut America’s indirect funding of terrorist organizations in countries such as Saudi Arabia.

That aside, let’s consider how exactly we are producing this black gold. According to Oil Sands Truth, the Athabasca tar sands produce “at least three times the CO2 emissions as regular oil production”. Furthermore, the project’s massive tailings ponds seep contaminated water into the ecosystem, creating health risks for communities downstream. Sourcing oil from shale deposits isn’t so great, either. As Quinn Blunderfield explains in his blog, the required “fracking” process uses large amounts of energy and also contaminates precious groundwater.

A solution for the future? Hardly.

Our system needs an overhaul – it always surprises me how we can invest so much time, money and energy into processes that are destroying a world on the brink of catastrophe. Sure, they create jobs. But so will a new green economy. Let’s go, North America.

For more on these topics see National Geographic and The Globe & Mail.