President Barack Obama addressed the possible construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline in his speech on climate change Tuesday, saying the project will only be built if it does not “significantly” increase carbon pollution.
“Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our nation’s interest, and our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution,” he said in what was billed as a major speech at Georgetown University. “The net effects of the pipeline’s impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining if this project is allowed to go forward. It’s relevant.”
Prior to the speech, a senior administration official told the Huffington Post that the president would ask the State Department to only approve the construction of the pipeline if it would not lead to a “net increase” in overall greenhouse gas emissions.
