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Nobel laureates ask Obama to block Keystone pipeline
News Articles Featured | Globe and Mail | September 07, 2011
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The Dalai Lama and eight other Nobel Prize laureates want President Barack Obama to block TransCanada Corp.’s (TRP-T42.620.050.12%) Keystone XL pipeline from the oil sands to Gulf Coast refineries.
The letter is the latest salvo in a high-profile campaign to persuade the Obama administration not to approve the $7-billion pipeline project, which will deliver up to 700,000 barrels per day of oil sands bitumen to the world’s largest refining hub.
In addition to the Dalai Lama, it was signed by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Irish peace campaigners Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams, Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi and American anti-landmine campaigner Jody Williams.
The Nobel laureates reminded Mr. Obama that he campaigned on a pledge to fight climate change, and argued that blocking the Keystone XL pipeline would represent solid action on that front.
“You spoke of creating a clean energy economy,” said the letter, which was released by the Nobel Women’s Initiative. “This is a critical moment to make good on that pledge and make a lasting contribution to the health and well being of everyone of this planet.”
Echoing the argument of U.S. and Canadian environmental groups, the authors argue the oil sands development represents the world’s second largest potential source of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Your rejection of the pipeline provides a tremendous opportunity to begin transition away from our dependency on oil, coal and gas, and instead increase investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency,” it said.
However, in an environmental impact statement released last month, the U.S. State Department concluded that the Keystone XL pipeline will not lead to more greenhouse gas emissions because the oil sands would be developed and transported to markets by other means if the pipeline is blocked.
With the release of the environmental statement - which found the pipeline posed no undue risk to most environmental resources - Obama administration is now reviewing whether the Keystone XL project is in the U.S. national interest. That process includes weighing environmental impacts, national security issues and economic factors.
Several construction unions have endorsed the pipeline, saying it will create much-needed work for their members.
Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said Wednesday that the Canadian government remains optimistic that the State Department will approve the pipeline.
Tagged with: keystone xl, pipeline, desmond tutu, dalai lama
