The Council of Canadians and nine local chapters are among sixty environmental and community groups who signed an open letter calling on Peter Watson, the head of the National Energy Board, to include climate change in the federal regulator’s review of the proposed 1.1 million barrels per day Energy East tar sands pipeline.
Today’s media release about this open letter notes, “The Energy East project would release 30 to 32 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, the same as adding seven million cars to Canada’s roads. This is more than any single Atlantic province, and bigger than the emissions saved in Ontario’s entire coal phase out. In comparison, the Keystone XL pipeline, which now faces a climate test from U.S. President Barack Obama, would increase emissions by 22 million tonnes.”
Council of Canadians energy and climate justice campaigner Andrea Harden-Donahue says, “If we can’t talk about tar sands expansion and climate change at the NEB, where can we? Pipeline infrastructure is nearing capacity in Alberta. Adding 1.1 million barrels every day, Energy East will absolutely spur tar sands expansion and significant carbon pollution.”
The letter concludes with the fair warning, “Without considering related climate pollution impacts and listening to people’s voices, any review of Energy East will be both incomplete and illegitimate.”
The letter was signed by the Council of Canadians national organization and the Fredericton, Halifax, Montreal, Moose Jaw, Ottawa, Regina, Saint John, Thunder Bay and Winnipeg chapters along with 350.org, Equiterre, Friends of the Earth Canada, Greenpeace Canada and numerous other groups.
Photo: Peter Watson, head of the NEB.
