Shell's Muskeg River mine in northern Alberta. The Conference Board of Canada says better controls are required on the rate of development of oilsands projects. (CBC)

Alberta's oilsands are getting too much of the attention when it comes to the public debate about curbing Canada's carbon emissions, a Conference Board of Canada study said Tuesday.

The board said curbing demand must be part of any plan to reduce emissions.

The report concluded the oilsands do not produce significantly more greenhouse gases than other sources of oil. It quoted an analysis that when considering the full chain of production, such as emissions created while shipping, refining, and consuming, oilsands crude results in between seven to 21 per cent more carbon than the lowest-emitting crude oil currently refined in the United States.

The board relied on an Environment Canada report that suggested road transportation in Canada in 2007 accounted for 137 million tonnes of emissions, or 18 per cent of Canada's total. The oilsands accounted for 40 million tonnes in the same period, or five per cent.

The study said any climate change plan must strike a balance between producers and consumers of energy. Oilsands companies must continue to develop technology to reduce greenhouse gas production but consumers must also support efforts to reduce vehicle emissions.

Still, the report says oilsands emissions will grow, since production is expected to double over the next decade and that will require better controls on the rate of development.

"Sustainable development of the oilsands requires a more measured pace of growth than we have seen in recent years, which would ease the labour, material and environmental pressures," co-authors Len Coad and Glen Hodgson said.

The board said in a release it consulted with industry leaders, environmental analysts and others in preparing its report.