Bernie Sanders: Keystone XL Pipeline Would Leave Planet ‘Significantly Less Habitable’

President Obama has promised to veto any legislation that reaches his desk authorizing construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., thinks that is a “good idea.”

Appearing on MSNBC’s “The Rundown with José Díaz-Balart,” the potential 2016 presidential candidate explained why.

“Well, because 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,” said Sanders.

Sanders said it was “imperative” that Americans face the “devastating problems” brought about by climate change.

“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,” said Sanders.

Díaz-Balart pointed out that the pipeline would merely transport existing oil:

“Doesn’t it ecologically make sense to transport it via pipeline versus, I don’t know, the other ways it will be transported if that pipeline is not there?”

But Sanders insisted that we must “transform our energy system away from fossil fuel.”