Yesterday was a watershed moment in our fight to stop Keystone XL. Following weeks of criticism of the pipeline from President Obama, the White House confirmed that the president will veto Republican legislation to approve Keystone.1 That’s great news for the climate and for our communities—and a huge victory for the #NoKXL movement. Now it’s time for the president to reject the pipeline once and for all.
Tell President Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline!
President Obama’s veto threat is a testament to the dedication and resolve of millions of grassroots activists like you who have for years fought to stop this pipeline, against all odds. Together our movement has marched, written letters, sat in at the White House and along the route of the pipeline, and self-organized a large-scale network ready to do whatever it takes to win a rejection on Keystone. Thank you for your commitment.
Yesterday’s announcement is the direct result of all of that hard work, and a milestone on the path to killing this pipeline for good. Now, let’s take the next step, and push President Obama to reject Keystone once and for all.
The veto threat is welcome news, but our work isn’t finished yet. The new Republican Congress has pledged to keep Keystone at the top of its agenda. Meanwhile, the White House says it’s waiting for the results of the State Department approval process before making a final decision.
Enough. President Obama has all the information he needs to do the right thing and reject the pipeline today. He has said that he won’t approve the Keystone XL pipeline if it significantly increases carbon pollution.2 Well, the evidence is in, and it is overwhelming: Keystone XL utterly fails the climate test. In fact, the pipeline would light the fuse to the continent’s biggest carbon bomb. It would kill any hope for keeping climate change within two degrees of warming. Any spill would devastate communities along the pipeline route, contaminate drinking water, and wreck delicate ecosystems.
President Obama’s veto threat is a huge step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. We need him to finish the job and issue a clear “no” on this disastrous project now. Call on him to reject the Keystone XL pipeline today.
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Sources:
1. “Obama Will Veto Keystone XL Legislation, White House Says”, NPR, January 6, 2015
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/01/06/375412544/obama-will-veto-keystone-xl-legislation-white-house-says
2. “Obama Won’t Approve Keystone Pipeline Unless It Passes New Test”, National Journal, June 26, 2013
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/obama-won-t-approve-keystone-pipeline-unless-it-passes-new-test-20130625
