President Biden: Block Pipelines to Uphold Climate Progress

Before Trump returns to the White House in January, President Biden can take bold action to uphold his commitment to addressing the climate crisis, respecting Indigenous rights, and protecting the health and safety of our communities by ending support for destructive fossil fuel infrastructure. 

Sign the petition to ask President Biden to leave a lasting legacy of progress by denying the permit for the Line 5 pipeline, reversing the approval of the Line 3 pipeline, and rescinding the permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

These projects are incompatible with the environmental and social justice priorities that President Biden and his Administration has championed. Continuing to allow the construction and expansion of these pipelines undermines his promises to transition to clean energy, safeguard our water resources, and uphold the sovereignty of tribal nations.

The Line 5 pipeline is a ticking time bomb. Built in 1953, it threatens the fragile ecosystem of the Great Lakes, which provide drinking water for over 40 million people. Enbridge’s proposal to replace and reroute the pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac poses an unacceptable risk to this vital resource. Over 150,000 public comments have called on the administration to deny the necessary permits for this project. These voices represent the overwhelming public consensus that the potential for oil spills and environmental degradation is too great a threat to ignore.

Similarly, the approval of the Line 3 pipeline was a blow to Indigenous communities, climate activists, and all Americans fighting for a livable future. The pipeline’s expansion through pristine wetlands and treaty-protected territories not only violates the rights of the Anishinaabe people but also locks us into decades of carbon emissions. This project is incompatible with the scientific consensus that we must keep fossil fuels in the ground to avoid catastrophic global warming.

The Dakota Access Pipeline remains a symbol of environmental injustice and the disregard for Indigenous sovereignty. Despite the profound opposition from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and allies across the country, the pipeline continues to operate without a full environmental review. It endangers the Missouri River, a critical water source, and perpetuates the legacy of exploiting Indigenous lands for fossil fuel profits.

Each of these pipelines represents a step backward at a time when we must move forward with urgency. The International Energy Agency has made it clear that no new fossil fuel infrastructure can be built if we are to limit global warming to 1.5°C. By rejecting these pipelines, President Biden can leave office having led the world in transitioning to a clean energy future while demonstrating that the rights of communities and the health of the planet come before corporate interests.

Sign the petition to ask President Biden to align his actions with his words and deny the Line 5 permit, reverse the approval of the Line 3 pipeline, and revoke the Dakota Access Pipeline permit. These decisions are necessary to protect our water, honor Indigenous rights, and ensure a livable climate for future generations.