The government met our demands today. Sort of.
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- Published on Wednesday, 27 January 2016 16:15
- Written by editor
Friends,
Yesterday, we told you that the government had announced plans to bring in a climate test for pipeline projects. Earlier today, they told us what that would look like. They've told us that they will be assessing the direct and upstream green house gas emissions of pipeline projects including Energy East and Kinder Morgan. They've also committed to talking to Indigenous peoples and communities.
This is a big win for this movement, and for the tens of thousands of us who have raised our voices to politicians and the National Energy Board to demand climate change be included in pipeline reviews.
But rather than scrap Stephen Harper’s National Energy Board reviews, they’ve given them a new coat of paint. A serious commitment to climate action and First Nation consultation would stop these pipelines in their tracks.
No tar sands pipeline can pass a serious climate test -- particularly if... Canada keeps its commitment to limiting warming to 1.5C.
And pipeline companies have wholly failed in meeting the obligations of free, prior and informed consent guaranteed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
If the government is serious about his announcement today, they should freeze tar sands expansion, and stop the broken reviews of all new tar sands pipelines. This commitment today shows that we can have a big impact -- which is why there’s no better time to crank up our pressure to scrap pipeline projects, freeze tar sands expansion and invest in a clean and just economy than right now.
With these announcements, the government has confirmed that the decision over pipelines still sits with the federal cabinet. That’s why tomorrow we’ll be delivering a petition calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to reject the Kinder Morgan pipeline once and for all.
The tar sands are Canada’s fastest growing source of emissions. Pipeline projects that expand the tar sands can’t be built if we are going to meet our obligations to a 1.5ºC world. The government acknowledging that pipelines need a climate review is a good step, but it’s nowhere near what we really need.
We need a freeze on tar sands expansion and a bold commitment to building a just, clean energy economy. Click here to join in.
Onwards,
Cam Fenton
350.org is building a global climate movement. You can connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and r38
