Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit against President Trump's plan for Keystone. The Trump administration approved the Keystone Pipeline just under a week ago.
What is the Keystone pipeline?
The Keystone pipeline is a planned pipeline which is to be 1,800 miles long. The pipeline will carry tar sands from Canada to the United States. The tar sands will reach refineries on the Texas coast. It will boost the oil flow from Canada to the United States. It is estimated that it could carry 830,000 barrels per day.
Why is it controversial?
The Kpipeline has proved controversial since its proposed creation.
It is mainly controversial with environmentalists. As they argue that it will damage the planet. And increase the threat of global warming, due to the fact that it uses fossil fuels, which are damaging to the earth's climate.
Environmentalists are concerned about the co2 effect that it will have on the planet, but, that is not their only environmental concern. The other environmental concern for them is that the pipeline increases the risk of spillage. This spillage would be damaging to both the earth and the wildlife which inhabits these areas.
Finally, there is criticism over the Keystone pipeline because of its human rights violations. The Keystone pipeline is proposed to be built on lands which are lived on by native peoples.
The native people have argued that it would destroy their native lands. While the United Nations have condemned the pipeline for breaching human rights.
The challenge
Environmentalists have legally challenged the Trump administration over its proposals to give the Keystone pipeline the go-ahead. They argue that the pipeline violates several environmental laws.
They are also arguing that the Keystone pipeline should not be given the go-ahead because it could worsen the effects of climate change.
The environmentalists challenging Trump's pipeline plans also state that the pipeline violates the Endangered Species Act. In other words, if the pipeline goes ahead, it could be damaging to endangered species too.
