FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2016
Contact:
David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil [dot] org
Oil Change International statement on offshore drilling announcement
Today, President Obama announced a new ban on offshore drilling in parts of federally owned waters off the Atlantic coast and in the Arctic Ocean. In response, David Turnbull, Campaigns Director at Oil Change International released the following statement:
“We congratulate President Obama for this historic action. As he knows, and as he stated when he rejected Keystone XL, ‘if we’re going to prevent large parts of this Earth from becoming not only inhospitable but uninhabitable in our lifetimes, we’re going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground.’
“Our latest analysis of the science demands we stop all new fossil fuel development if we want to save the climate, so President Obama’s move to protect parts of our coasts from new offshore drilling is a welcome and sensible step. Every barrel of oil that’s left in the ground or under the ocean is a good thing for our climate. However, while this action should be applauded, we must not forget that there are still many communities, such as those along the Gulf Coast, left to defend their shores from the dangers of offshore drilling for years to come.
“Like every bit of climate action now on the books, this designation will be defended vigorously against any Trump administration assaults.”
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Notes to editors:
- Recent Oil Change International analysis shows that in order to achieve the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement, all new fossil fuel development must be rejected. See: https://priceofoil.org/2016/09/22/the-skys-limit-report/
- Previous Oil Change International analysis has shown that there is no room for drilling in the Arctic in a climate-safe world: https://priceofoil.org/2015/08/13/untouchable-climate-case-arctic-drilling/