Environmental Case Study Solving a Puzzle

Environmental Case Study (Alberta's Oil Sands) Alberta's Oil Sands represents one of the international environmental problems facing Canada and close to seventy countries across the globe. Albert's Oil Sands proves to be a new course of political conflict within the setting of Canada and at the international level. Oil Sands development is responsible for rapid economic growth of Alberta. This creates ethical or moral dilemma because there is a massive risk in association with the development of Oil Sands within the province.

Oil Sands contribute towards ecological harm thus having a negative impact on the living conditions of the individuals in the province and the entire planet. This ethical dilemma leads to mobilization processes by environmental entities to help alleviate the situation. This is because some prominent political outfits such as Peter Lougheed recognize that the rate of the development of the oil sands in Alberta is not socially or economically beneficial to the province or entire Canada (Fairley 52).

These developments of events surrounding the oil sands make it critical for the creation or formulation of effective and efficient solution to the puzzle facing Alberta and the planet. The responsibility for development of economic, social, and political policies in the country rests with the government; therefore, it is crucial for the authority to come up with applicable solution to oil sands environmental problem. Another puzzle surrounding this environmental case is that the government is unwilling to address the issues surrounding Oil Sands in Alberta (Fairley 52).

The government is generally hostile against attempts to moderate the influence of the oil sands in Alberta. This leads to continuous development of the ecological problem thus putting the lives of the future generation at risk. There are many stakeholders in the development of the oil sands environmental problems hence critical solution should be in place to reduce the negative harms to the human race.

Hypothesis Alberta's Oil Sands possess key environmental, social, political, and environmental problems in the contemporary world hence should undergo extensive moderation in relation to its development. Key Issues and Impact of Alberta's Oil Sand The stakeholders or companies in the transaction of oil sands in Alberta are powerful in their interaction with the economy hence limiting efforts by the government to moderate the development of the environmental problem. This development reflects on the 21 firms operating approximately 70 projects concerning oil sands activities.

In order to advocate for the moderation of the policies in relation to oil sands in Alberta, different organizations continue to challenge the execution of the principles in the law courts. Different ethnic groups within the geographical location of Alberta seek to redirect the proceedings thus conservation of the globe. The presence of different stakeholders also enhances the development of oil sands issues because of unique interests and preferences. Each group in the fight against the policies or principles advocates for interests relative to their perceptions (Pasqualetti 249-267).

The production of oil sands requires a large volume of water per year hence over-exploitation of natural resources. This reflects on the volume of water in the production of the oil sands and the levels of water partake in the city of Calgary. The problem facing the ecology is the determination of effective and appropriate balancing of the usage of water in production of oil sands and other ecosystem needs such as human use of the resource.

The development of oil sands indicates that, in the future, there might be insufficient water volumes to satisfy the needs of the human beings in relation to the application of the resource. Oil sands draw large volumes of water in the process of production thus reducing the water levels in the streams and rivers, in the province. The environmental policy relative to conservation of the environment does not guarantee future protection of water to satisfy the needs of the future generation.

Oil sands development is responsible for ecosystem problems for other animals or creatures living in water. Exploitation of water endangers the animals or creatures enjoying the resource. This leads to destruction of natural resources hence harm to the ecology. Production of oil sands enhances the threats to the planet in relation to climatic change. This is because of the transmission of greenhouse gases.

The development of the oil sands production in Alberta proves to be a threat to the globe because of effects relative to global warming thus endangers the existence of the human race. Lack or minimal involvement of the government in reducing and controlling the development of the oil sands leads to political conflicts in the region (Pasqualetti 249-267). This might prove harmful to the sovereignty of Canada in current and future interactions with other international entities.

The environmental situation in Alberta has led to the development of serious sanctions from international business partners relative to Alberta. For instance, the United States of America enforces extensive sanctions to the government of Alberta in order to control the production of oil sands. This indicates the extent of harm to ecology by the production of oil sands in Alberta. The keys issues and impact of oil sands relative to human existence require the determination of applicable solution to the puzzle.

Possible Solutions to Alberta's Oil Sands Problems In order to help solve the puzzle, the government of Alberta should focus on different resource conservation. The first approach should emphasize on land through the creation of protected areas. The protected areas should be 50% of the total land coverage to allow enough chances for survival of the human race and other creatures. The government should also set maximum categories or levels for development of the oil sands in Alberta. This would help in controlling the pace and the overall harm to ecology.

The authority should adopt reclamation process aiming towards achievement of liability management. This approach would reduce the social, economic, political, and environmental effects of the production of oil sands. The last approach in relation to land conservation should consider reclamation of the woodland caribou. This reflects gigantic step towards conservation of the natural resources against the negative influence of the production and development of oil sands (Brown 7-16). The government of Alberta should also work towards conservation of water resources. This includes protection of the rivers and streams.