Canada climate report hides oil sands data

OTTAWA, May 30 (UPI) -- The Canadian government is admitting it left increased emissions from oil sands out of a climate change report to the United Nations.

Environment Canada acknowledged the omission to Postmedia News, which found the missing numbers.

The tar sands industry, mainly in Alberta, caused about 6.5 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, up from 5 percent the year before. The emissions have soared about 300 percent since 1990, exceeding those of all cars on the roads and canceling out savings from other sectors.

Canada's total greenhouse output fell 6 percent from 2008 to 2009, mainly because of the recession.

"The oil sands remain Canada's fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas pollution," said Clare Demerse of the Pembina Institute, an environmental research group. "… So it's very disappointing to see Environment Canada publish a 500-page report that leaves out these critical numbers, especially when last year's edition included them."