A new report from WWF-UK warns exploitation of North America’s tar sands [search] and oil shale [search]. could increase atmospheric CO2 levels by up to 15%. They release as much as eight times as much carbon as fuel from petroleum. Over-reaction to gasoline prices [search] going up a couple bucks in the rich world may lead to the catastrophic embrace of these unconventional and highly-polluting fossil fuels.

Ecological Internet has been working on the issue for years [more]. We are pleased to now join with WWF (so right on climate, so wrong on forests) in their recent call for an end to the production of tar sand and oil shale fuels [ark | more\ark]. These “carbon bomb” fuels can only perpetuate a deadly fossil fuel addiction, delaying transition to clean renewable energy, and ensuring Earth’s climate is irreversibly damaged. They must be banned now before we become dependent.