News Release
March 15, 2023
UBCIC Concerned that LNG Project Approval Facilitates Fracking and an Increase in Methane Emissions in BC
(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – March 15, 2023) Yesterday, the Province announced a new framework for clean energy lacking critical details, while approving a new liquified ‘natural’ gas (LNG) facility that federal regulators added their approval to today.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, stated, “I am deeply worried about the warming planet and resulting climate emergency that are being driven globally by major industrial resource extraction. The expansion of the LNG industry and associated fracking that was greenlit in yesterday’s and today’s announcements is frightening when we think about how this will impact the lands and waters in this province and across the world. With the announced caps on emissions from BC’s and Canada’s respective fossil fuel sectors still under development, it remains to be seen what tools the Crown is prepared to use to deliver real reductions in the sector, especially while it remains willing to continue approving future projects. In theory, a cap could provide the mechanism that’s been missing to lower emissions from oil and gas if it also has a strong enforcement system to hold industry to account. Done poorly, it could give a clean look to business-as-usual or promote the continued use of fossil fuels in spite of the overwhelming evidence on the need to phase them out.”
“The climate crisis is demonstrably impacting the entire planet, and our lands and ways of living as First Nations are increasingly at risk,” stated Chief Don Tom, UBCIC Vice-President. “The actions of Canada and British Columbia to address this crisis, as major emitters and as major exporters of fossil fuels that are burned and emitted in other jurisdictions, are grossly insufficient for the task of leaving our world habitable. Exporting LNG to other countries for their use while trying to increase electrification in BC is not going to change the global impacts of LNG.”
“British Columbia’s own Climate Solutions Council has remarked on the need for compulsory policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – in the absence of strict policies and enforcement, how do we hold industry accountable?” said Chief Marilyn Slett, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer. “BC’s new requirement to include a company plan for achieving net-zero by 2030 before receiving a permit is not an effective tool to reduce real emissions if there is nothing to back it up.”
Through UBCIC Resolutions 2016-06 and 2019-02, UBCIC is mandated to ensure that any climate change plans developed by Canada or British Columbia must stop the further expansion of fossil fuel production and export. The approvals of projects like Cedar LNG and Bay du Nord, which are projected to contribute relatively fewer emissions than their predecessors or competitors, demonstrates the Crown’s adherence to the notion that the addition of less emissions-intensive oil and gas facilities will reduce our overall emissions. Neither project exists in isolation, but will be prolonging our participation in and induced dependence on the fossil fuel economy that is driving the climate emergency.
-30-
Media inquiries:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, 250-490-5314
Chief Don Tom, Vice-President, 250-813-3315
Chief Marilyn Slett, Secretary-Treasurer, c/o 250-957-7721
UBCIC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
For more information please visit www.ubcic.bc.ca
Showing 1 reaction