Canada’s new oil pipeline threatens communities and Asia’s clean energy shift

350.org today voiced opposition to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement of a new oil pipeline, saying that it would unleash one of the world’s largest carbon bombs, endangering communities and ecosystems while entrenching dependence on costly fossil fuels. 

Atiya Jaffar, 350.org Canada Country Manager said: 

“As millions of Canadians struggled to stay safe during an unprecedented heat dome across eastern Canada, Prime Minister Carney committed to pouring fuel on the flames of the climate emergency. The newly announced West Coast Pipeline would act as the fuse that ignites one of the world’s largest carbon bombs: the Canadian tar sands. On top of that, building this pipeline could cost up to $100 billion of our taxpayer dollars. In a cost-of-living crisis, this is something we simply can’t afford. Instead of wasting our precious public funds on dead-end infrastructure that will put Canadians in danger and is doomed to become a stranded asset, our government should be funding our future by a  East-West-North electricity grid powered by renewables.”  

Last week, Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveiled plans to build a pipeline from Alberta to the southern coast of British Columbia, which would carry up to one million barrels of oil a day from the Alberta tar sands to tankers bound for Asian markets. Since then, Smith teamed up with the premier of Ontario to propose yet another pipeline route going east, turning away from Canada’s climate commitments. 

Japan is in talks with the government of Alberta for oil shipment and refinery deals, as Canada seeks to strengthen its hold on Asian markets and as Japan, which imports 95% of its crude oil from the Middle East, seeks to diversify its source of imported oil.

Masayoshi Iyoda, 350.org Japan Campaigner, said:

“Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has picked up the wrong lesson from the Hormuz crisis. The world needs to diversify its energy sources, not trade routes. Building a new pipeline to funnel dirty Canadian oil to Asia is injustice in the name of energy security. Asian households need affordable, domestically-sourced renewable energy, not volatile fossil fuels shipped from halfway across the world.”  

Last June 25, 350.org coordinated actions in 40+ communities across Canada opposing the new pipelines. Campaigners warn that these pipelines will face fierce opposition from communities, including affected Indigenous Peoples.

“Ahead of this pipeline announcement, people in 40+ communities across the country visited MP offices to demand that our federal representatives commit to signing a deal with their constituents to protect our climate, our communities, and our future. Clearly, Prime Minister Carney chose to protect Big Oil’s profits rather than the interests of the people. But Indigenous-led resistance and the climate movement have stopped toxic pipelines before, and we can do it again,” Jaffar added.

See more photos of the action here

ENDS

Media Contact: 

Aitya Jaffar, 350.org Canada Country Manager, [email protected] 

Ilang-Ilang Quijano, 350.org Media Campaigner, [email protected], +639175810934 

Kim Bryan, 350.org Media Strategy and Relations Manager, [email protected], +447770881503