Bernie Sanders: Passing Keystone XL Means A 'Significantly Less Habitable' Planet

Bernie Sanders: Passing Keystone XL Means A 'Significantly Less Habitable' Planet

As the Senate prepares to vote on whether climate change is real as part of the proposed Keystone Pipeline bill, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) strongly believes “it’s a good idea” for President Barack Obama to veto the bill.

“Unless we get our act together, the planet that we’re going to be leaving to our kids and grandchildren will be significantly less habitable than the planet we have right now,” Sanders said in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday.

“I think it’s a good idea for the president, Congress, and the American people to listen to the overwhelming amount of scientists who tell us loudly and clearly that climate change is one of the great planetary crises that we face,” Sanders said. He insisted that we must face the “devastating problems” caused by climate change and the need to “transform our energy system away from fossil fuel.”

Last week during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Sanders offered a formal measure to the bill that would put Congress on record as affirming that "climate change is real" and is "caused by human activities."

Sanders has voiced his opposition to Keystone XL as the Senate has faced multiple votes on the pipeline. In November, Sanders told CNN, "The idea that we would give a green light for the transportation of 800,000 barrels of some of the dirtiest oils all over the world makes no sense to me.”

Watch Sanders' comments above.

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