Pipeline approval is a missed opportunity

VANCOUVER -- The U.S. government's decision today to approve the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines represents a missed opportunity for the country to lead on clean energy. "If the world is serious about addressing climate change, we can't continue to build long-lived fossil fuel infrastructure," David Suzuki Foundation CEO Peter Robinson said. "These projects lock us into increased use of carbon fuels while hindering the urgently needed transition to clean energy."

Beyond their climate impacts, the pipelines threaten Indigenous water resources and land. "Indigenous rights must take priority over short-term oil-industry profits," Robinson said. "We stand with the community of Standing Rock, which is opposing the Dakota Access pipeline. Approving these pipelines is short-sighted and will affect not only the environment, but the health of communities."



"Climate change has no borders," Robinson said. "Canada doesn't need to follow U.S. President Donald Trump's direction on this pipeline decision. We can lead on one of the fastest-growing industries in the world: renewable energy."

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Media contact:

Emily Fister, Climate Change & Clean Energy Communications Specialist

David Suzuki Foundation

Phone: 604-374-4102 (Vancouver)

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