Trans Mountain
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
- Written by editor
This new evidence could be the last nail in the coffin for Trans Mountain
In the last 10 days, two damning reports came out that could be the final nail in the coffin for the Trans Mountain pipeline.
Last week the Canadian government’s own oil regulator did the math and confirmed that the Trans Mountain pipeline is not only inconsistent with Canada’s climate commitments, but actually completely unnecessary.
To complete the one-two punch, the United Nations (UN) then released an alarming report revealing that governments around the world must slash fossil fuel production by 6% per year before 2030 to have any hope of keeping their Paris climate commitments. That means no gas – and it’s findings were alarming. It proves that, by 2030, countries currently plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels as would be consistent with a 1.5C global temperature rise. That dispels Trudeau’s common excuse that Trans Mountain could somehow fit in with Canada’s climate goals.
Pair that with the fact that Canada’s energy regulator just said the pipeline isn’t even compatible with the government’s own projections of future oil demand, and the case for Trans Mountain falls down completely.
None of this is news to us, but it could hold huge weight for the federal government. Indigenous groups, local communities, and environmentalists have been warning the government about the avoidable harm of the Trans Mountain pipeline for years, and are still actively protesting construction. But now this new evidence from two highly influential groups – the government’s own energy regulator and the United Nations – could give Trudeau the golden opportunity he needs to walk away from this project once and for all.
The good news is that it’s still not too late. The pipeline remains 94% un-built, and to complete the project will require an additional investment of $10 billion taxpayer dollars. Instead, the government could cancel Trans Mountain and repurpose this $10 billion to finally make good on their promise to provide clean and accessible drinking water to all Indigenous communities – and with whatever is left, direct it to clean energy projects.
The fight against Trans Mountain has been long and difficult. We’ve had victories that seemed final and defeats that we weren’t sure we could overcome. And throughout it all, the Stand.earth community has stood strong. You were there at the blockades, there when Kinder Morgan dropped out, there when Trudeau bought the pipeline, there when Indigenous communities prevailed in court, there when the Canadian government decided to disregard Indigenous concerns, and we know you'll be there when this dangerous tar sands megaproject is scrapped for good.
If Canada is truly committed to being a climate leader on the international stage, it will take both the UN and its own energy regulator seriously and stop expanding fossil fuel infrastructure when we so desperately need to be winding it down. And that starts with cancelling Trans Mountain.
With respect,
Sven Biggs
Canadian Oil and Gas Programs Director
Stand.earth
Stand.earth challenges corporations, industries, and governments to prioritize the well-being of people, our environment, and our climate by creating long-term, effective solutions. None of this work is possible without your support. DONATE $5 San Francisco office: 548 Market Street, Suite 74196, San Francisco, CA 94104-5401 On traditional Chochenyo and Karkin Ohlone Lands
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