David Suzuki apologizes for pipeline comments after backlash in Alberta, B.C.

Environmentalist David Suzuki is apologizing after controversial pipeline comments he made during a climate rally in B.C. drew backlash from leaders in that province as well as Alberta.

Suzuki came under fire after saying he thinks pipelines will be blown up if action to prevent climate change is not taken by governments.

“We’re in deep, deep doo doo. And the leading experts have been telling us for over 40 years. This is what we’ve come to. The next stage after this, there are going to be pipelines blown up if our leaders don’t pay attention to what’s going on,” a statement recounting an interview he gave to CHEK News in Victoria said.

Related article: David Suzuki’s controversial pipeline comments draw criticism in Alberta 

However, the environmentalist now says the remarks he made “were poorly chosen and I should not have said them.”

“Any suggestion that violence is inevitable is wrong and will not lead us to a desperately-needed solution to the climate crisis,” Suzuki added, noting, “my words were spoken out of extreme frustration and I apologize.

“We must find a way to stop the environmental damage we are doing to the planet and we must do so in a non-violent manner,” he continued.

NEW:

David Suzuki apologizes for saying that there are "going to pipelines blown up."

He says "the remarks I made were poorly chosen and I should not have said them. My words were spoken out of extreme frustration and I apologize."#Yeg #yyc #ableg pic.twitter.com/COH5TTm5lA

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) November 25, 2021

His comments were slammed by many, including Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon.

“This is completely unacceptable and extremely reckless,” Nixon said in the legislature Monday, adding the destruction of pipelines amounts to eco-terrorism.

“It is statements like this that caused Alberta’s government to bring in Bill 1, the Critical Infrastructure Defense Act,” Nixon said. “We must protect our critical infrastructure, and not allow these ridiculous ideological menaces to destroy what Albertans have worked so hard to create.”

B.C.’s public safety minister also addressed the comments Monday, saying “I think statements like that are not helpful.”

Amid the controversy, the David Suzuki Foundation took to social media to clarify the circumstances.

“We have been in touch with David: he has confirmed that this comment was NOT a direct threat to destroy fossil fuel infrastructure,” one tweet reads.

The group added that “When David speaks publicly, he speaks on his own behalf – not for the David Suzuki Foundation.”

We have been in touch with David: he has confirmed that this comment was NOT a direct threat to destroy fossil fuel infrastructure. (2/7)

— David Suzuki FDN (@DavidSuzukiFDN) November 22, 2021