Julia Lennon
The issue of the Keystone XL pipeline is an exemplary example of how in regards to environmental policy legislators tend to hold opposing positions. Some politicians are concerned with climate change and support policies that protect the environment. Others are more concerned with economic development. The Keystone XL pipeline is the forth stage of a pipeline system from Alberta, Canada through the United States which transports tar sands oil. The construction of this pipeline, which would increase the amount of oil transported per day dramatically, is awaiting government approval. For those of us who are not sure exactly where the current pipeline is located and where the Keystone XL pipeline would lie I have provided a helpful image below.
The issue of the Keystone XL pipeline is an exemplary example of how in regards to environmental policy legislators tend to hold opposing positions. Some politicians are concerned with climate change and support policies that protect the environment. Others are more concerned with economic development. The Keystone XL pipeline is the forth stage of a pipeline system from Alberta, Canada through the United States which transports tar sands oil. The construction of this pipeline, which would increase the amount of oil transported per day dramatically, is awaiting government approval. For those of us who are not sure exactly where the current pipeline is located and where the Keystone XL pipeline would lie I have provided a helpful image below.
Link to image: http://keystone-xl.com/about/the-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline-project/
To find out more about the Keystone XL pipeline check out this link!
http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/tag/keystone-xl-pipeline/
The Senate has just voted in favor of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline with the legislators split 62 to 36. (Biello, 2015) The next step is for the bill to go to President Obama who has the power to approve or veto the proposal. It has been said by the White House Press Secretary that President Obama will veto the Keystone XL pipeline. In order to override the potential presidential veto, the Republicans would have needed two-thirds or more votes in favor of the pipeline. (Fox News, 2015) Thankfully they were five votes short of having this power.
An interesting proposition was presented to the Senate recently stating that humans significantly contribute to climate change, and the legislators were divided 50-49 on this belief. (Biello, 2015) Approximately half of the Senators believe that human activity is a notable contributor to climate change, including many Republicans. It is curious to see that fourteen legislators who believe this to be true still voted in favor of the pipeline encouraging the use of fossil fuels. This is fascinating because I would think that if you believed that humans contributed to climate change that you would want to do everything in your power to prevent further damaging actions to the environment. However in this case fourteen politicians voted in favor of a potentially environmentally hazardous pipeline that would transport a dirty energy source and contribute even more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The supporters of the pipeline argue that it is the safest and least polluting way to transport oil. They also believe that if the pipeline is not built the tar sands oil will find another means of getting from Canada to Nebraska, and that this alternate form of transportation may be more energy intensive (Biello, 2015). Those in favor of the pipeline say that this project would have many positive economic impacts and construction would create thousands of jobs (Fox News, 2015). This demonstrates the economic effects on climate policy. Many legislators are concerned more about the economy and short term interests rather than the environment and long-term interests of humans and our Earth.
Personally I think this project is promoting the use of carbon emitting fuels and making it faster and easier to transport them. Additionally I am concerned at the possibility of a pipe burst or spill that could have detrimental environmental impacts. This degree of uncertainty and the risk involved with the construction of an additional pipeline is enough for me to side against the Keystone XL pipeline. Environmentalists and those who are against the building of the pipeline are opposed to the use of fossil fuels, and this pipeline supports further use of crude oil. The EPA is not in favor of this pipeline because it would be able to carry 830,000 additional barrels of oil per day, and has the potential to pollute fresh waterways if there is a spill (Biello, 2013). Additionally tar sands are one of the dirtiest forms of oil, and this pipeline would encourage their use on a larger scale releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere furthering climate change (Biello, 2015).
To find out more about the Keystone XL pipeline check out this link!
http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/tag/keystone-xl-pipeline/
The Senate has just voted in favor of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline with the legislators split 62 to 36. (Biello, 2015) The next step is for the bill to go to President Obama who has the power to approve or veto the proposal. It has been said by the White House Press Secretary that President Obama will veto the Keystone XL pipeline. In order to override the potential presidential veto, the Republicans would have needed two-thirds or more votes in favor of the pipeline. (Fox News, 2015) Thankfully they were five votes short of having this power.
An interesting proposition was presented to the Senate recently stating that humans significantly contribute to climate change, and the legislators were divided 50-49 on this belief. (Biello, 2015) Approximately half of the Senators believe that human activity is a notable contributor to climate change, including many Republicans. It is curious to see that fourteen legislators who believe this to be true still voted in favor of the pipeline encouraging the use of fossil fuels. This is fascinating because I would think that if you believed that humans contributed to climate change that you would want to do everything in your power to prevent further damaging actions to the environment. However in this case fourteen politicians voted in favor of a potentially environmentally hazardous pipeline that would transport a dirty energy source and contribute even more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The supporters of the pipeline argue that it is the safest and least polluting way to transport oil. They also believe that if the pipeline is not built the tar sands oil will find another means of getting from Canada to Nebraska, and that this alternate form of transportation may be more energy intensive (Biello, 2015). Those in favor of the pipeline say that this project would have many positive economic impacts and construction would create thousands of jobs (Fox News, 2015). This demonstrates the economic effects on climate policy. Many legislators are concerned more about the economy and short term interests rather than the environment and long-term interests of humans and our Earth.
Personally I think this project is promoting the use of carbon emitting fuels and making it faster and easier to transport them. Additionally I am concerned at the possibility of a pipe burst or spill that could have detrimental environmental impacts. This degree of uncertainty and the risk involved with the construction of an additional pipeline is enough for me to side against the Keystone XL pipeline. Environmentalists and those who are against the building of the pipeline are opposed to the use of fossil fuels, and this pipeline supports further use of crude oil. The EPA is not in favor of this pipeline because it would be able to carry 830,000 additional barrels of oil per day, and has the potential to pollute fresh waterways if there is a spill (Biello, 2013). Additionally tar sands are one of the dirtiest forms of oil, and this pipeline would encourage their use on a larger scale releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere furthering climate change (Biello, 2015).
Here is an image depicting Alberta’s tar sands oil industry’s impact on Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/tar-sands-climate-impacts.asp
If you are interested in the process of turning tar sands into oil click on this link and check out the slideshow!
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-turn-tar-sands-into-oil-slideshow/
The environment is a politically polarized issue. Typically Democrats favor policies that are beneficial to the preservation of the environment and/or slow the progression of climate change. “In the United States, this polarization issue is focused around not the science of the issue but perspectives on the policy instrument and the economics implications of the implementation of such an instrument (Fisher, 2012).” This statement is true especially for the Republicans who are more concerned with the economic implications of environmental policies, and usually vote for economic development regardless of environmental impacts. Currently the Republicans hold the majority and this has given them an advantage and is part of the reason why the Keystone XL pipeline passed. However many Democratic senators also voted in favor of this project. Normally with environmental politics Republicans tend to question the science behind climate change. They also tend to comment on all the negative impacts that environmental policies could have on foreign relations and the economy (Fisher, 2012).
Here we see another controversial situation that has Democrats and Republicans pitted against each other. In recent years the country has experienced the two parties not working together which has had a negative impact on progress of our nation. The environment is one of the clearest representations of this. You would think that when it came to the Earth that we all share, the air we breathe, and the water we drink everyone would be able to collaborate towards a mutually beneficial outcome. Whether Democrats or Republicans we are all humans who live on this planet that we have a responsibility to protect for future generations. There have been ongoing protests outside of the White House as depicted in the image below. This picture represents a small sampling of the many Americans who are against the Keystone XL pipeline. President Obama will soon make his decision on the Keystone XL pipeline and the world is watching and waiting.
If you are interested in the process of turning tar sands into oil click on this link and check out the slideshow!
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-turn-tar-sands-into-oil-slideshow/
The environment is a politically polarized issue. Typically Democrats favor policies that are beneficial to the preservation of the environment and/or slow the progression of climate change. “In the United States, this polarization issue is focused around not the science of the issue but perspectives on the policy instrument and the economics implications of the implementation of such an instrument (Fisher, 2012).” This statement is true especially for the Republicans who are more concerned with the economic implications of environmental policies, and usually vote for economic development regardless of environmental impacts. Currently the Republicans hold the majority and this has given them an advantage and is part of the reason why the Keystone XL pipeline passed. However many Democratic senators also voted in favor of this project. Normally with environmental politics Republicans tend to question the science behind climate change. They also tend to comment on all the negative impacts that environmental policies could have on foreign relations and the economy (Fisher, 2012).
Here we see another controversial situation that has Democrats and Republicans pitted against each other. In recent years the country has experienced the two parties not working together which has had a negative impact on progress of our nation. The environment is one of the clearest representations of this. You would think that when it came to the Earth that we all share, the air we breathe, and the water we drink everyone would be able to collaborate towards a mutually beneficial outcome. Whether Democrats or Republicans we are all humans who live on this planet that we have a responsibility to protect for future generations. There have been ongoing protests outside of the White House as depicted in the image below. This picture represents a small sampling of the many Americans who are against the Keystone XL pipeline. President Obama will soon make his decision on the Keystone XL pipeline and the world is watching and waiting.
References:
Biello, David. (2013) EPA on Keystone XL: Significant Climate Impacts fro Tar Sands Pipeline. Scientific American. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/04/23/epa-on-keystone-xl-pipeline-environmental-impacts/
Biello, David. (2015) Senators Vote in Vircles about Global Warming and the Kaystone XL Pipeline. Scientific American. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2015/01/30/senators-vote-in-circles-about-global-warming-and-the-keystone-xl-pipeline/
Fisher, D. R., Waggle, J., & Leifeld, P. (2012). Where does political polarization come from? Locating polarization within the US climate change debate. American Behavioral Scientist, 0002764212463360.
“Senate approves Keystone pipeline bill, in face of White House veto threat,” (2015, January 29). Retrieved from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/29/keystone-bill-clears-senate-hurdle/
Biello, David. (2013) EPA on Keystone XL: Significant Climate Impacts fro Tar Sands Pipeline. Scientific American. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/04/23/epa-on-keystone-xl-pipeline-environmental-impacts/
Biello, David. (2015) Senators Vote in Vircles about Global Warming and the Kaystone XL Pipeline. Scientific American. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2015/01/30/senators-vote-in-circles-about-global-warming-and-the-keystone-xl-pipeline/
Fisher, D. R., Waggle, J., & Leifeld, P. (2012). Where does political polarization come from? Locating polarization within the US climate change debate. American Behavioral Scientist, 0002764212463360.
“Senate approves Keystone pipeline bill, in face of White House veto threat,” (2015, January 29). Retrieved from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/29/keystone-bill-clears-senate-hurdle/