“You can’t believe any of ‘em.”
You’ve probably heard this said every time energy is debated, usually followed by: “Big oil has its own agenda and so does the Green lobby!”
The problem with the current polarized debate is that the “experts” on each side are coming at the issue from different perspectives, using either different sets of data or interpreting the same data in different ways.
It is hardly surprising that the general public is left wondering who is right, as Todd Hirsch, chief economist at ATB Financial, pointed out in his Globe & Mail article, The quest for truth in oil sands.
At the heart of the confusion is that environmentalists and industry are posing different questions. Some environmental groups ask: “How do you avoid environmental impacts when producing energy,” and come to the conclusion – “You can't, so don’t develop the resource.”
Some in industry ask the same question but add another: “How do you produce the energy and raw materials people need for modern life?”
Oil sands is one of the most controversial topics in energy development in North America today. The sheer scale of the industry, its economic and technological potential, and its contribution to fiscal revenues and the wider economy means everyone is affected by decisions about its future. And we can only reach intelligent answers with complete and reliable data.
Hirsch praises ethical investment and other groups for pushing energy companies to disclose more about their operations and environmental and social impacts. One of these is Ceres, an independent network of social investors, labour and environmentalists.
Suncor has been working with Ceres to review the contents and themes of its 2010 Report on Sustainability. This report seeks to achieve maximum transparency in disclosing our environmental, social and economic performance. It does so in the context of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international effort to set the bar on what should be reported by companies striving for transparency. Visit GRI’s website to learn more about their audit process.
Will our report help you answer your concerns and questions about the oil sands? Can you believe it? We hope so – but please have a look and let us know your views.
It is hardly surprising that the general public is left wondering who is right, as Todd Hirsch, chief economist at ATB Financial, pointed out in his Globe & Mail article, The quest for truth in oil sands.
At the heart of the confusion is that environmentalists and industry are posing different questions. Some environmental groups ask: “How do you avoid environmental impacts when producing energy,” and come to the conclusion – “You can't, so don’t develop the resource.”
Some in industry ask the same question but add another: “How do you produce the energy and raw materials people need for modern life?”
Oil sands is one of the most controversial topics in energy development in North America today. The sheer scale of the industry, its economic and technological potential, and its contribution to fiscal revenues and the wider economy means everyone is affected by decisions about its future. And we can only reach intelligent answers with complete and reliable data.
Hirsch praises ethical investment and other groups for pushing energy companies to disclose more about their operations and environmental and social impacts. One of these is Ceres, an independent network of social investors, labour and environmentalists.
Suncor has been working with Ceres to review the contents and themes of its 2010 Report on Sustainability. This report seeks to achieve maximum transparency in disclosing our environmental, social and economic performance. It does so in the context of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international effort to set the bar on what should be reported by companies striving for transparency. Visit GRI’s website to learn more about their audit process.
Will our report help you answer your concerns and questions about the oil sands? Can you believe it? We hope so – but please have a look and let us know your views.
