Here are some updates on the carbon-intensive Alberta tar sands projects. First, the FT’s “Energy Source” blog reports on recent analysis from Citigroup that says, among other things, “It is not a fuel source that sits naturally within a low carbon economy and is unlikely to be a strategic winner as climate regulation tightens, albeit gradually, in North America.”
Meanwhile, at the British Petroleum annual meeting, the shareholders turned back a modest proposal to require a full investigation and report on BP’s involvement in the tar sands. See this from the WSJ. There was no surprise on the defeat of the resolution from Calpers, Calstrs and the New York State Common Retirement Fund and others.
Finally, here’s something noteworthy from Reuters today: Greens Launch NAFTA Action On Canada Oil Sand. Environmental Defence Canada, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and three private citizens have filed a complaint. Here’s the press release from Environmental Defence and more on the tar sands from NRDC. I’ve been wondering for some time why NRDC doesn’t sue the US government to enforce Section 526 of the 2007 energy law. Oh well, they do seem to be very much on the case.