• Who is behind the No Dirty Energy campaign?

• Why do we need this campaign?

• What does "Dirty Energy" mean?

• How does Dirty Energy production affect the climate?

• Why is No Dirty Energy targeting Canada's tar sands?

• Why should Americans care about Canadian tar sands oil?

Who is behind the No Dirty Energy campaign?

The No Dirty Energy campaign is an effort of EARTHWORKS’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project , a nonprofit organization devoted to protecting communities and the environment from the destructive impacts of mineral development, in the U.S. and worldwide. For almost 20 years, EARTHWORKS has fulfilled its mission by working with communities and grassroots groups to reform government policies, improve corporate practices, and encourage responsible materials sourcing and consumption.

Why do we need this campaign?

In the face of increased energy demand and falling energy reserves, we are seeing a shift to dirty energy sources, like tar sands oil, that pollute far more than fuels extracted by conventional means. These dirty energy sources are often extracted at great cost to the global climate, the environment, and local communities.

The No Dirty Energy campaign seeks to turn the energy debate on its head by exposing the environmental and social impacts of dirty energy extraction –- as opposed to the impacts “at the end of the tailpipe.” In doing so, the campaign strives to give impacted communities a larger voice, and consequently a bigger role, in the choices of which energy sources to develop.

What does “Dirty Energy” mean?

Not all sources of energy are created equal. For some, the damage caused by extracting, processing, and consuming the energy is too high a price to bear. While our society clearly needs energy to function, there are some sources that are best left in the ground, as any short-term economic benefit is far outweighed by the true costs –- including ruined landscapes, destroyed habitats, pollution of our water and air, and threats to the health of wildlife, our climate, and our communities.

How does Dirty Energy production affect the climate?

Global climate change is arguably the biggest environmental threat facing our planet. The production and burning of all fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. However, extracting the dirtiest forms of energy makes the problem much worse. Dirty Energy production is dramatically more energy-intensive than conventional fuel sources –- for one thing, it takes a great deal of energy, mainly produced by burning fossil fuels, to get Dirty Energy out of the ground. Additionally, it takes more energy to clean up and convert the dirty energy sources into forms that consumers can use.

Why is No Dirty Energy targeting Canada’s tar sands?

The Alberta tar sands are one of the dirtiest sources of energy on the planet. For example, oil derived from tar sands can have serious impacts on climate even before it is burned -- estimates show that extraction and processing of tar sands generates between 5 to 10 times more carbon dioxide emissions than conventional oil. In other words, fully developing the Alberta tar sands could mean the battle to limit global warming will be lost before it ever really begins.

Why should Americans care about Canadian tar sands oil?

The impacts of developing tar sands oil go far beyond the destroyed forests, polluted air, and contaminated water that result from the mining process. The transport and processing of tar sands oil, already underway in the U.S., releases further contaminants in American communities. Furthermore, production from the tar sands is already a major contributor to global warming –– the effects of which are already being felt in the United States.