Introduction
The Keystone XL Pipeline is an oil route within the Keystone system designed to ease the oil supply between the US and Canada. However, since the proposition and establishment of the project, it has been the subject of heated debates and controversy over its impact on the environment and climate change. In 2015, President Barack Obama rejected its construction, only to be reinstated in 2017 by President Donald Trump. Nevertheless, President Joe Biden took the initiative to halt the project in June 2021 since it attracted notable environmental protests. Thus, the following essay proposes some solutions that the new government can partake in to deal with arising issues because of canceling the completion of the pipeline since it has several potential benefits for economic growth and development.
The Goals of the Report
Canada and the United States have maintained strong foreign ties with each other, attributed to their political inclination towards social democracy and trade. Particularly, the US relies on a notable portion of the oil produced from Oil Sands in Canada (Jackson 542). Similarly, the two nations collaborate within and beyond their borders to enhance their economies and security (Diotalevi et al. 87). Hence publicly open disapproval of the Alberta Oil Sands development would result in poor interstate relations with Canada. The recent shift in governance from a liberal to a democratic structure in Canada provided an unmatched opportunity for the US to strengthen its ties (Lawlor 669). Hence, the purpose of this report is to provide solutions to sustain a positive relationship with Canada and realize mutual benefits through the increased exchange of goods and services.
The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline was met with intense criticism due to political, environmental, and economic issues. As a result, completing the project and assuring its environmental safety and benefits to the US has become difficult since the supporting and opposing sides all have reasonable arguments (McKenzie 14). Hence, this report proposes a reasonable approach to countering issues in environmental conservation and ensuring that the project is economically viable. According to the project’s opposition, constructing the Keystone XL pipeline would undermine the war against environmental degradation. Moreover, although its supporters forecast numerous economic benefits, the opposition claim that its economic implications are uncertain due to its contribution to high unemployment (Ordner 16). Thus, this report examines various facets of these issues and the solutions shareholders can adopt in both Nations.
Problems Posed by the Completion of the Keystone XL Pipeline
One of the keystone XL pipeline’s most significant issues is environmental degradation from post-construction deformities and disturbing the ecosystem. According to Ternes, the construction company suggested that the natural topography would be restored if possible (p. 48). In other words, the restoration will be neglected in areas where it is not viable, meaning that these disruptions could be severe to the natural biodiversity. Moreover, areas filled with vegetation and established forests cannot be restored and their replenishment will take decades (Ternes 50). Therefore, the pipeline could potentially result in the extinction of rare plant and animal species located on its path.
Additionally, another issue environmental activists raised is extremely high pollution levels due to greenhouse gas emissions from the oil transportation and distribution process. The Keystone Pipeline intends to transport Tar Sands Oil from Canada into the US. Compared to other oils, Tar Sand Oil is a mixture of oil, water, and sand, making it thicker (Ceccoli 650). Thus, it must be heated to high temperatures or broken down using chemical solvents to reduce its viscosity. However, the process is hazardous to the environment and biodiversity due to its release of greenhouse gases (Lawlor 671). Moreover, evaluators of the project’s feasibility suggest that an oil spillage in areas like flood plains and deserts could lead to devastating outcomes because the project does not have any measures to mitigate the system against such incidents (Zhang 218). In these areas, the oil will quickly seep into the sand and pollute water bodies extensively. Therefore, an oil spillage in these areas could result in an environmental catastrophe that will impact the lives of animals and humans depending on water bodies in countries outside the US.
Finally, completing the Keystone XL Pipeline may negatively impact local and national economies. For example, burning Tar Sands during transportation will raise the global temperature by about two degrees Celcius, which could decrease the national GDP by 2.5% (Salazar 19). Moreover, overdependence on fossil fuels is having a notable impact on local communities that are affected by unprecedented weather calamities. Moreover, studies show that oil sector developments are inclined to cut job opportunities rather than create jobs. According to Kojola, many oil organizations lay off millions of employees while their executives carry home abnormal amounts of cash (p. 903). Therefore, completing the Keystone project means that unemployment rates will rise and wreak havoc on the oil industry’s job market.
Solutions and Recommendations for the Aforementioned Issues
The recommendable solution to limit environmental destruction and the degradation of vegetation is to select a path that will avoid these landscapes and sceneries. Although setting up a path that is clear of forests and biologically diverse wastelands might be hectic and more expensive, it will pay off in the future since the strategy will help avoid several issues that might lead to its closure (Beecroft 76). Canada is a country known for its high levels of environmental conservation standards. Thus, the nation will not readily defy environmental laws or set up the project in areas that pose a threat to wildlife and biodiversity (Romanosky 15). Therefore, the US government should collaborate with officials in Canada to evaluate and scrutinize the laid-out plan and estimate its potential destruction to the environment.
In some circumstances, oil spills might be inevitable due to environmental hazards like earthquakes and other natural causes. However, the developers of the pipeline can take strategic measures to limit a potential environmental calamity. For example, engineers can set up computer-operated valves at various points along the pipeline to halt flow whenever there are pressure changes or abnormalities (Edwards 32). Subsequently, they will be obligated to install autonomous systems to record data and evaluate the system’s functionality. Although these initiatives might require the input of more manpower and professionals like IT technicians, they will save millions of lives in case of pipe breaks since the spillage will be controllable. Thus, this strategy should be incorporated into the final design.
The issue of the economic implications of the Keystone XL Pipeline is complex because it touches on various sectors of the industry. The main reason for the project is to increase process efficiencies and help support the American economy. Nevertheless, for most industries, efficiency means adopting mechanical solutions while laying off employees to maximize returns (Wood 302). Although the pipeline intends to create jobs during its construction, these jobs are not sustainable as individuals will become unemployed as soon as the project is completed. Therefore, the government should expand its opportunities to accommodate these people by shifting them to other sectors with viable employment positions (McKenzie 45). For example, studies show that the solar energy industry has created several jobs in the US since it occasionally requires individuals for installation, maintenance, and servicing (Romanosky 16). Thus the government can take advantage of such sectors by supporting their development and organizing individuals to take up job positions after the project’s completion. In the long run, the government will be able to create a sustainable economy.
Prediction of Outcomes If These Plans are Adopted
If the Biden administration maintains its policies, its decisions might stall economic development in the US and deteriorate the inter boundary relationship between the US and Canada, which will come as a disadvantage (Ettinger 162). The US and Canada have strong foreign ties because they engage in various trade activities with each other and offer various forms of support through collaboration. Thus, overseeing the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline will further strengthen the bonds between the US and Canada since it will provide a thriving business. In addition, limiting the project’s negative impact on the environment is critical to its success because any incidents can result in significant losses in biodiversity (Wood 303). The US is already a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, especially from burning fossil fuels and industrial processes. Therefore, the project will not be viable if completed with the initial plans.
However, altering the plan to accommodate safer transportation and limited gas emissions will allow Biden’s administration to significantly diminish global warming and people’s development (Ceccoli 648). Thus, altering the plans will reap benefits in the future. On the other hand, an oil spillage can adversely impact individuals’ health in various parts of the globe for years to come. In addition, gallons of oil that seep into the ground translate into huge losses for both countries since they have heavily invested in the project (Lawlor 673). Hence, ensuring limited destruction of the environment helps both nations avoid several issues in the future and allow the Keystone Pipeline project to achieve its long-term goals. Therefore, completing the project with the proposed solutions will strengthen foreign ties between the two nations and promise a fruitful future, opening doors for more business opportunities.
Conclusion
The Keystone XL Pipeline project is a major economic development that promises significant benefits in the future. However, the project is subjected to heated arguments and scrutiny over its role in environmental degradation and economic instability. Although the project intends to alleviate energy supply and transport issues, it will contribute to global warming and environmental destruction. Moreover, its economic feasibility is not certain because it will lead to job loss. Nevertheless, the government can adopt strategic solutions like laying out a strategic plan for its route, adopting autonomous computer systems to evaluate indicators, and creating opportunities in other areas promising job opportunities. In turn, the US will sustain positive relationships with Canada as the project addresses other issues that limit its success.
Works Cited
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