July 17, 2012

Scientists Urge State Department to Review Climate Impacts of Keystone XL

On July 17, 350.org released a letter signed by ten of the nation's top climate scientists urging the State Department to fully consider the climate implications of the Keystone XL pipeline in the department's Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the northern leg of the project. Click here for a press release about the release of the letter.  July 17, 2012  Dear Secretary Clinton, We are writing to ask that the State Department conduct, as part of its evaluation of the Keystone XL pipeline proposal, a serious review of the effect of helping open Canada’s tar sands on the planet’s climate. At the moment, your department is planning to consider the effects of the pipeline on “recreation,” “visual resources,” and “noise,” among other factors. Those are important—but omitting climate change from the considerations is neither wise nor credible. The vast volumes of carbon in the tar sands ensure that they will play an important role in whether or not climate change gets out of hand; understanding the role this largescale new pipeline will play in that process is clearly crucial. We were pleased that President Obama saw fit to review this project more carefully; it would be a shame if that review did not manage to comprehensively cover the most important questions at issue. Sincerely, John AbrahamAssociate Professor, School of EngineeringUniversity of St. Thomas Ken CaldeiraSenior ScientistDepartment of Global EcologyCarnegie Institution James HansenResearch ScientistThe International Research Institute for Climate and SocietyThe Earth Institute, Columbia University Michael MacCrackenChief Scientist for Climate Change ProgramsClimate Institute Michael E. MannProfessor of MeteorologyDirector, Earth System Science CenterThe Pennsylvania State University James McCarthyAlexander Agassiz Professor of Biological OceanographyHarvard University Michael OppenheimerAlbert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International AffairsWoodrow Wilson School and Department of GeosciencesPrinceton University Raymond T. PierrehumbertLouis Block Professor in the Geophysical SciencesThe University of Chicago Richard SomervilleDistinguished Professor Emeritus and Research ProfessorScripps Institution of Oceanography George M. WoodwellFounder, Director Emeritus, and Senior ScientistWoods Hole Research Center Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

On July 17, 350.org released a letter signed by ten of the nation’s top climate scientists urging the State Department to fully consider the climate implications of the Keystone XL pipeline in the department’s Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the northern leg of the project. Click here for a press release about the release of the letter. 

 
July 17, 2012 
 
Dear Secretary Clinton,
 
We are writing to ask that the State Department conduct, as part of its evaluation of the Keystone XL pipeline proposal, a serious review of the effect of helping open Canada’s tar sands on the planet’s climate.
 
At the moment, your department is planning to consider the effects of the pipeline on “recreation,” “visual resources,” and “noise,” among other factors. Those are important—but omitting climate change from the considerations is neither wise nor credible. The vast volumes of carbon in the tar sands ensure that they will play an important role in whether or not climate change gets out of hand; understanding the role this largescale new pipeline will play in that process is clearly crucial.
 
We were pleased that President Obama saw fit to review this project more carefully; it would be a shame if that review did not manage to comprehensively cover the most important questions at issue.
 
Sincerely,
 
John Abraham
Associate Professor, School of Engineering
University of St. Thomas
 
Ken Caldeira
Senior Scientist
Department of Global Ecology
Carnegie Institution
 
James Hansen
Research Scientist
The International Research Institute for Climate and Society
The Earth Institute, Columbia University
 
Michael MacCracken
Chief Scientist for Climate Change Programs
Climate Institute
 
Michael E. Mann
Professor of Meteorology
Director, Earth System Science Center
The Pennsylvania State University
 
James McCarthy
Alexander Agassiz Professor of Biological Oceanography
Harvard University
 
Michael Oppenheimer
Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs
Woodrow Wilson School and Department of Geosciences
Princeton University
 
Raymond T. Pierrehumbert
Louis Block Professor in the Geophysical Sciences
The University of Chicago
 
Richard Somerville
Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Research Professor
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
 
George M. Woodwell
Founder, Director Emeritus, and Senior Scientist
Woods Hole Research Center
 
Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

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