TORONTO — Ecojustice lawyer, Charles Hatt and Transition Initiative Kenora executive director, Teika Newton made the following statement in response to the National Energy Board’s decision to consider climate change, including upstream and downstream GHG emissions, in its review of the Energy East pipeline:

Charles Hatt, Ecojustice lawyer said:

“This decision culminates years of work by countless individuals and groups that have fought against blinkered, siloed regulatory reviews that only pass the buck on climate change. The Board’s decision is both lawful and sensible. Surely it is now self-evident that a pipeline review must consider all potential greenhouse gas emissions and the risk that the pipeline will become a stranded asset in tomorrow’s economy.”

Teika Newton, executive director of Transition Initiative Kenora, said:

“In the era of accelerated climate change, responsible regulators must account for the climate and environmental impacts of projects sanctioned in the public interest.  The Board’s decision to examine the greenhouse gas emissions related to this project is an important step in translating the political and policy realities of Canada’s international commitments into climate action.  This is a reassuring and positive step toward building public trust in the regulatory process to ensure a climate safe future for our communities.”