Climate activists cheer,
Adopting the language of environmentalists, Obama said, “shipping dirtier crude oil into our country would not increase America’s energy security.”
He made it clear he couldn’t go to Paris to pursue a far-reaching global agreement without killing the oilsands pipeline from Canada to the U.S.
“America is now a global leader when it comes to taking serious action to fight climate change. And frankly, approving this project would have undercut that global leadership,” the U.S. president said.
To protect the Earth, Obama added, “We’re going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground rather than burn them and release more dangerous pollution into the sky.”
While Trudeau has promised quick action on climate change, the rejection of Keystone puts the Liberal government in a tricky position.
Besides supporting Keystone, the Liberals back the proposed $12billion Energy East pipeline as a potential plus for the economy. This line, which would reach from Alberta across the country to New Brunswick, now appears to be the most viable option for getting oil sandsderived petroleum to export markets. But it also faces stiff opposition from environmentalists.
Dion said Energy East can only be approved if it obtains social licence. “We support this pipeline but we want it to be done properly and it will be difficult to do it if we don’t strengthen the process itself — the process of consultation with com- munities — and the process of scientific environmental assessment,” he told the media.
The Liberals have said Harper failed to pave the way for pipelines by not launching significant climate change policy. The key to continuing oilsands production is establishing better environmental controls, Dion said.
“We didn’t say we will close the shop and then we will not have any pollution,” he said. “We believe in development but it must be sustainable, including for the oilsands. It’s a challenge but we’ll do it with the industry, with the province of Alberta, we’ll do it altogether, we have no choice.”
In a statement, newly chosen Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose said she is “extremely disappointed that President Obama succumbed to domestic political pressure and rejected the Keystone XL pipeline.”
She said Obama blocked the project “despite the facts, economic benefits and environmental safeguards” around Keystone.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley also lamented Obama’s decision and said oil exports to the U.S. will continue by rail. “Pipelines are actually lowemissions ways to transport oil,” she said. “Rail cars are not low-emission ways to transport oil.”
But she admitted better environmental standards would help open the way for less emotional debates about oil pipelines.
“One of the ways we can help make that happen is for this government to do its part in ensuring that our commitment to combating climate change is real,” Notley said.