The TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline project could be approved within 30 days due to legislation changes passed by the US Senate last week.

The changes could mean the project will be able to pass without President Obama’s approval and if deemed safe by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could be given the green light within 30 days.

President Obama has twice denied the 4300km pipeline, which environmentalists argue will cause irreversible damage.

Top NASA scientist, James Hansen, said last year building XL would spell ‘game over’ for the climate, as reported here by OWT.

The pipeline would distribute bitumen oil and run from Canada’s tar oil sands through to California. Its path would also cross through Nebraska, which holds the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the world’s largest water tables.

Part of the issue surrounding the pipeline is the method that would be used to tap the fuel source from Canada’s oil sands - scientists say it would release three times as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as regular methods of extraction.

The project has received widespread opposition, recently more than 800,000 people signed a petition protesting the Keystone project, which was presented to the White House last Tuesday.

The Climate Reality Project was joined by other climate organisations in a peaceful protest  that took place over Valentine’s Day, following a 24 hour period ‘to save the earth’, where environmentalists called for both online and offline action to stop the building of Keystone XL.

The protest followed news that the building of the pipeline could still go ahead if vital Republican led amendments to a bill on planning highways and roads passes through Congress.

A rallying cry from The Climate Reality Project earlier this week, sent out via email, outlined environmentalists’ worries.

“If you care about the climate, you have to care about stopping this dangerous pollutant and the pipeline that carries it.”

“After extensive research, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that annual carbon pollution from the Keystone XL pipeline could be at least 82% higher than average crude refined in America -- if not more.”

“That's the same amount of pollution as adding 4.8 million cars to our roads: an additional 27 million metric tons of carbon pollution.”

The Climate Reality Project was joined in the protest by grassroots organisation 350.org, MoveOn, League of Conservation Voters, Patagonia, Sierra Club and Energy Action Coalition among others.

For the history on protesting the Keystone XL, see this article http://www.ourworldtoday.com.au/news/article/climate-breakthrough

Photo courtesy of 350.org