Keystone XL cancellation: ‘Wake-up call’ for Canada to address oil and gas blind spot

(Climate Home News, 18 Jan 2021) Joe Biden’s plans to cancel the controversial Keystone XL pipeline expansion should be a “wake-up call” for the Canadian government to take the transition to a post-oil future seriously, say campaigners.

Transition documents obtained by Canadian broadcaster CTV News show US president-elect Biden could use an executive order to revoke the Keystone XL pipeline expansion permit as soon as Wednesday, when he is due to be inaugurated US president.

The move is part of a to-do list for Biden’s first day in office that includes re-joining the Paris Agreement and announcing the date for a US-hosted leaders’ climate summit.

The pipeline, which has been in development for more than a decade, aims to transport 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta tar sands in Canada to refineries along the US’ Gulf Coast.

Faced with lawsuits and strong opposition from environmental groups, the project was rejected by the Obama-Biden administration in 2015 over “environmental concerns” – a decision reversed by Donald Trump in 2017.

External link

Climate Home News, 18 Jan 2021: Keystone XL cancellation: ‘Wake-up call’ for Canada to address oil and gas blind spot