In what could be a slap in the face to protesters of Canada's proposed pipeline project in Alberta, an economist from International Energy Agency has clarified that such projects do not exacerbate or give any supporting contribution to the world's burgeoning climate change.

"The oil sands definitely makes a contribution to the increase in CO2 emissions," Fatih Birol, IEA chief economist, told Globe and Mail. "But the difference in getting oil from oil sands when compared to conventional oil, it is such a small contribution that it will be definitely wrong to highlight this as a major source of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide."

The contributors to the looming climate crisis, which according to the IEA will see global temperatures rise by 3.6 degrees Celsius, are the use of coal for electricity, the subsidies flaunted for oil consumption which had encouraged over-use, and the global governments' seemingly slow embrace to energy efficiency.

Protestors in kayaks take part in a demonstration against the Northern Gateway Pipeline in Vancouver, British Columbia November 16, 2013. About 2,000 protestors gathered on land and water to voice their opposition to the pipeline planned to cross northern British Columbia from Alberta to the west coast. REUTERS/Andy Clark

Just over this weekend, Canada experienced more than 130 communities converging to conduct rallies to protest the proposed 1,200-kilometre pipeline project that would connect Alberta's oil sands to B.C.'s coast.

Read: Canada Stages More than 100 Massive Rallies to Protest Oil Sands, Pipeline Projects

The long-term challenge, according to Mr Birol, is actually more on how to provide and supply the needs of the energy-hungry markets of Asia while slowing overall global emissions growth.

He shared the observation because the U.S., based on the newly released world energy outlook of the IEA last week, will become the world's largest crude producer by 2015, effectively shunning demand for imports of oil and natural gas. With this, Canada oil and gas producers have been advised to focus on the Asian markets.

"I expect a growing amount of Canadian energy exports will go to Asia, sooner or later, both in terms of oil and natural gas," Mr Birol said in the interview. "And I think once it starts, I would expect an acceleration of the exports will happen in a short period of time."

"There is golden opportunity for Asia to diversify from Middle East. Canadian oil will be a security option for the Asia oil consumers, namely China, India and East Asia," he said.