WASHINGTON – In response to news that TransCanada will be filing a lawsuit under NAFTA in response to the Obama Administration’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, 350.org issued the following reactions:
Bill McKibben, 350.org co-founder:
“This isn’t going to get the pipeline built, and it is going to remind Americans how many of our rights these agreements give away. The idea that some trade agreement should force us to overheat the planet’s atmosphere is, quite simply, insane. But the oil industry is so used to always winning that I fear this kind of tantrum is predictable. Corporate power is truly out of control.”
Jason Kowalski, 350.org Policy Director:
“This won’t actually help build the pipeline, too late for that. It’s just a greedy and desperate move by TransCanada to try and salvage some of the money they wasted on this ridiculous boondoggle.
The suit is a reminder that we shouldn’t be signing new trade agreements like the Trans Pacific Partnership that allow corporations to sue governments that try and keep fossil fuels in the ground.
TransCanada is wrong about the State Department’s analysis of the pipeline. The Department was clear that under a low oil price scenario like the one we’re currently facing the pipeline would significantly increase emissions. You can’t transport 800,000 barrels a day of the dirtiest fuel on the planet and not have a climate impact.
The Obama Administration was completely justified in rejecting the pipeline on climate grounds. They should now extend the same climate test applied to Keystone XL to all future infrastructure projects rather than taking each on a case by case basis. That would send a clear signal to industry and investors that business as usual is no longer acceptable.
The fight against Keystone XL fired up the climate movement like never before. We’re more than happy to keep thrashing it out with the likes of TransCanada–it will only bring more people into the struggle to keep fossil fuels in the ground.”
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Contact: Jamie Henn, [email protected], 415-890-3350