Image By: Charlie Kaijo

Some are calling this Obama’s Biggest Decision of his second term.

Are we talking about the Middle East? Afghanistan? The Economy?

No… it’s the Keystone XL pipeline.

The “What?” you may be asking.

Since it was proposed in 2010, the Keystone pipeline has been a scolding hot topic for environmentalists.  

The proposed pipeline would transport oil from the Tar Sands in Alberta, Canada, across the border in Montana and then make it way to ports on the Gulf  Of  Mexico in Texas.  

The Tar Sands have nearly 2 trillion barrels of oil in place and 99% of these exports would be transported to the American Midwest.

Supporters suggest the pipeline will make America energy independent, creating jobs and higher tax revenues. 

This is all very encouraging… but, as always, there’s a down side…

Scientists have been highly concerned with the methods of extraction used to remove the oil from the tar sands as it requires immense amounts of water and energy for this process.

This method releases more greenhouse gases than is usual for fossil fuels and one of its byproducts, petroleum coke, emits more carbon dioxide than coal. 

James Hansen, who heads the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies as well as being a professor of Environmental Science at Columbia University has called the Keystone Pipeline, “Game over” for the climate.  

It was recently reported that extracting and burning the tar for the pipeline would cause an additional warming of half the warming humans have already caused. 

Though the Obama administration has already approved the southern part of the pipeline, the President must decide in the next month or two if he will approve the section of the pipeline which crosses from Canada into the United States. 

Bill McKibben, who heads environmental organization 350.org organized an enormous protest of the pipeline on the National Mall last weekend. 40,000 protesters came out to ensure President Obama keeps his word about helping to stop climate change.

McKibben has been instrumental in instigating civil disobedience to stop the pipeline. He has been arrested outside the white house numerous times alongside other climate activists. 

Will President Obama keep his promise to, “Respond to the threat of climate change knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” or will he decide to provide America with a short-term economic gain at the expense of the environment?