Reacting to today’s (Thursday 11 April) protest against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline in the US, outside a meeting of G8 foreign ministers including US secretary of State John Kerry, Friends of the Earth Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

“Canadian tar sands oil is one of the world’s dirtiest transport fuels. It produces more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil and its extraction is hugely destructive for the environment.

“Keystone XL may be key to exporting tar sands oil but the US administration has pledged to act on climate change and must reject it – they can’t fight climate change and invest in one of the most carbon-intensive fossil fuels on the planet.

“Canada is lobbying hard to export tar sands oil to Europe. UK Ministers must make tackling climate change the priority and help keep tar sands out of Europe.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The ‘Say No to Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline’ protest took place on Thursday 11 April 2013 outside Lancaster House in London.

2. The UK is one of the countries supporting Canadian lobbying to allow tar sands oil to be imported, for more information please see here.

3. For more information about tar sands please see here.

4. The protest was organised and supported by: 350.org, Campaign Against Climate Change, Climate Rush, The Climate and Health Council, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Healthy Planet UK, Occupy London: Energy, Equity and Environment group, Push Europe, Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth, People Loading...& Planet, TEJAS (Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services), UK Tar Sands Network, UKYCC, World Development Movement.