NASA scientist James Hansen arrested

NASA climate scientist James Hansen was arrested today outside the White House after joining a protest against the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline.

energyNOW! producer Natalia Melia witnessed Hansen’s arrest at the demonstration, which started August 20. The protestors want President Obama to block the pipeline project, which would bring crude from Canada’s oil-sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf coast.

The U.S. State Department said last week the environmental risks from the Keystone XL project are low, but the Obama administration has yet to make a final decision on the pipeline.

Hansen has warned that the greenhouse gas emissions tied to oil-sands crude production will make global warming worse. "It’s our children and grandchildren that will pay the price if they OK this tar-sand pipeline," Hansen told energyNOW! earlier today.