Climate organizations call on Premier Eby to abandon fracking, LNG plans
VANCOUVER / UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh AND səlilwətaɬ TERRITORIES — Climate groups from all over the world published an open letter today calling on B.C. Premier David Eby to reject new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, stop issuing permits for fracking wells and develop plans to phase out gas extraction in the province.
“B.C. is one of the few places on Earth building a brand new fossil fuel industry even as climate disasters wreak havoc on our communities and ecosystems,” said Wilderness Committee Climate Campaigner Peter McCartney. “Today, the climate movement — from grassroots groups across the province to established national organizations to international allies in the U.S., Asia and Europe — are calling on Premier Eby to align with the global effort to salvage a safe climate and abandon plans for a massive expansion of fracking and LNG.”
Several of the groups are based in the countries the provincial government and the gas industry are hoping to sell LNG like Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. They say gas from B.C. will only slow down the energy transition in Asia.
“Governments and companies pouring more money into fossil gas infrastructure on both sides of the Pacific are literally sucking the wind out of renewables and delaying decarbonization efforts,” said Ayumi Fukakusa, Deputy Executive Director of Friends of the Earth Japan. “If B.C. goes further along the LNG path, it just makes it harder for Japan and other Asian countries to do the right thing.”
Economic modelling from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows global demand for LNG falling two per cent a year until 2030 and eight per cent annually afterwards if the world delivers on plans to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century.
“Canada’s LNG exports are ringing alarm bells across Asia as climate experts there warn about prolonging a dangerous reliance on B.C.’s fossil gas,” said Stand.earth Oil and Gas Programs Director Sven Biggs. “It’s utterly irresponsible fiscally and socially to export our emissions to countries which are already feeling the devastating effects of the climate crisis.”
In the letter, the groups highlight concerns about the LNG industry raising the cost of living for British Columbians as it has in the United States and Australia. Higher utility bills for gas and hydro could result from growing exports of gas, and plans to electrify LNG terminals.
“More LNG means higher bills for Fortis customers and BC Hydro ratepayers,” said Dogwood Communications Director Kai Nagata. “People are already choosing between groceries and paying their utility bills. Raising those costs to boost oil and gas company profits is just wrong.”
Frack Free BC is a broad-based alliance of organizations and individuals working to end fracking, with a steering committee led by Dogwood, Stand.earth and the Wilderness Committee. Friends of the Earth Japan, Solutions for Our Climate from South Korea, Indonesia’s People’s Coalition for the Rights to Water, Safety Before LNG in Ireland and a dozen groups across the United States of America including Oil Change International are among the global signatories to the letter.
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More quotes from signatories:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs:
“Continuing with the development of LNG terminals, the permitting of LNG projects and the continuation of fracking while in the midst of the devastating climate emergency is irresponsible and destructive. Premier Eby needs to move away from this industry and put the climate and environment first.”
Dongjae Oh, Oil and Gas Program Director at Solutions for Our Climate in South Korea:
“If Canada is betting on South Korea’s LNG demand, it’s betting on the wrong future. South Korea aims to ramp down its use of LNG to nine per cent by 2036 to meet its climate goals, and we’re already facing an oversupply of LNG. The Government of British Columbia will be left with massive stranded assets if it continues subsidizing billions of dollars for the fossil fuel industry. We stand with the people of Canada and urge the government to shift its investments to clean and affordable energy, such as solar and wind, that will benefit communities in both Canada and Asia.”
Andréanne Brazeau, climate policy analyst at Équiterre in Quebec:
“B.C. has a backwards way of looking at the energy transition. Instead of doubling down on costly and dangerous fossil gas infrastructure, it should look to Quebec for inspiration. Our government — which is far from being considered a climate champion — rejected the mega GNL Québec fossil gas project and legislated against any future fossil fuel exploration and development in the province because of pressure from citizens and civil society. B.C. must also start heading in that direction.”
Larry Barzelai, Chair of BC Chapter, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment:
“As scientists around the world continue to call methane a major threat to a stable climate, the provincial government is approving one LNG project after another. Extreme heat has caused hundreds of deaths in B.C. Emergency rooms have seen influxes of people suffering from asthma exacerbations and heart disease due to the increasing number of forest fires in B.C. Increased LNG activity is only exacerbating these health concerns. Many studies have shown that young people are despairing of their future, because governments are doing too little to counteract climate change. When it comes to LNG, the provincial government is on the wrong side of history and it needs to change direction.”
From fossil to future: A collective call for renewable energy in Atlantic Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2024
Traditional territory of the Wabanaki Peoples/Fredericton – Several environmental groups nationwide have banded together to demand government leaders focus on growing renewable energy infrastructure instead of further fossil fuel development.
Atlantic Canada has a unique opportunity to spearhead the transition to clean and affordable energy sources. In a joint letter (en français aussi), 28 environmental non-governmental organizations emphasize the critical need to halt any development of new liquified natural gas (LNG), shale and other fossil fuel projects and prioritize the well-being of the people and the region over short-term corporate gains.
Similar to calls coming from Atlantic Canadian groups, West Coast environmental groups also sent a joint letter urging the federal government to prioritize renewable energy over further fossil fuel development in Canada’s Pacific region.
“Instead of getting locked in our fossil fuel past, it’s time to pave the way for a clean energy grid,” said Dr. Moe Qureshi, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s director of climate research and policy.
“By embracing renewables, Atlantic Canada can not only mitigate environmental impacts but also address energy poverty, reduce household costs and stimulate economic growth.”
The letter debunks New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs’s claim that Atlantic Canadian LNG exports would meet demand in Europe. It notes that energy company Repsol abandoned LNG export plans in New Brunswick because of economic infeasibility. Additionally, recent findings from Europe show a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. This reduction is mostly attributed to the expansion of wind and solar infrastructure.
In Canada, fossil fuel dependency is declining. Coal and gas usage dropped steadily, and the number of petroleum product refineries has dropped from 40 in the 1970s to 17 in 2023. It’s clear fossil fuels are becoming a resource of the past.
We must continue this positive momentum of shifting away from fossil fuels and prioritize public health and community involvement in energy development. These 28 letter signatories advocate for realistic regional energy solutions that prioritize renewable sources like wind and solar as well as battery storage. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick and the other environmental groups who have signed this letter, are demanding that governments make decisions that pave the way for a better, cleaner and more prosperous future for all.
