Huge expansion of oil pipelines endangering climate, says report

More than 24,000km of pipelines planned around world, showing an almost deliberate failure to meet climate goals'

More than 24,000km of new oil pipelines are under development around the world, a distance equivalent to almost twice the Earth's diameter, a report has revealed. The projects, led by the US, Russia, China and India, are dramatically at odds with plans to limit global warming to 1.5C or 2C", the researchers said.

The oil pumped through the pipelines would produce at least 5bn tonnes of CO₂ a year if completed, equivalent to the emissions of the US, the world's second largest polluter. About 40% of the pipelines are already under construction, with the rest in planning. Global carbon emissions must drop by 50% by 2030 to keep on track with internationally agreed targets for limiting global heating.