OUR ‘END LNG’ CAMPAIGN
- Our campaign and demands are found on our End LNG page.
THE BASIC ARGUMENT
The basic argument against BC government subsidies for LNG and fracking is this:
- LNG, ‘Liquefied Natural Gas’, is a fossil fuel, like coal and oil. As such, it emits a lot of CO2 when burned. CO2 emissions are causing the climate crisis. The science warns us we must immediately begin rapidly reducing CO2 emissions. That means, we must begin retiring all fossil fuel projects. Absolutely we must not embark on new ones – like LNG Canada.
- Note: Burning LNG for electricity emits less CO2 than coal. This shouldn’t be important, but it’ll come up later.
- Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is a relatively new technology that allows natural gas (what will become LNG) to be extracted from underground shale beds. Fracking uses enormous amounts of water and injects dangerous chemicals and sand into the shale beds to release the gas. (Fracking also contaminates underground water and causes earthquakes.)
- Owing to recent cost-saving innovations in fracking technology, oil companies are positioned to make enormous profits by expanding into fracking and LNG operations. As such, there is currently an ennormous boom in this industry around the world. There is also an enormous industry and government effort to portray LNG as “clean”. LNG is a dangerous, CO2-emitting, climate heating fossil fuel, but is being portrayed as a green alternative to coal that can “bridge” us to future renewable energy use.
- Lured by the hope of securing industry to their region and gaining tax revenue from resource extractions, and perhaps by political campaign contributions and the hope of future personal favours, politicians around the world have been offering huge financial incentives at public expense to attract oil companies to their regions. $5.35 billion in financial incentives are being provided to the oil companies behind the LNG Canada project.
- Financial incentives make the cost of selling LNG for energy on world markets artificially cheaper than renewables like wind and solar – delaying their adoption and use.
- The takeaway: Our governments are providing public subsidies to boost oil company profits, expanding LNG fossil-fuel extraction and use, and delaying the development and adoption of renewables all at the same time.
- This is happening right now with the BC government and LNG Canada. But, it has only just started and we can stop it.
IN-DEPTH RESOURCES
(r) recommended for those in a hurry, (n) newest additions
The Narwhal
- (n) What rock-bottom natural gas prices mean for Canada’s aspiring LNG industry, 2 May 2020
- (n, r) To understand B.C.’s push for the Coastal GasLink pipeline, think fracking, LNG Canada and the Site C dam, 3 March 2020
- (n) ‘A massive liability’: B.C.’s orphan fracking wells set to double this year, 28 February 2020
- B.C. subsidies to fossil fuel industry more than $830 million last year, 25 November 2019
- B.C. should disclose what fracking companies pay for publicly owned resources, 13 November 2019
- (r) B.C. grants $1.2 billion in deep well subsidies to fracking companies in two years: new report, 13 November 2019
- (r) 6 awkward realities behind B.C.’s big LNG giveaway, 6 April 2019
- LNG Canada project called a ‘tax giveaway’ as B.C. approves massive subsidies, 3 October 2018
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
- (n) Coastal GasLink connects bad economics with terrible climate policy while trampling on Indigenous rights, 25 February 2020
- BC Government Fossil Fuel Subsidy Data Finally Public, 13 November 2019
- BC’s Oil and Gas Commission: A captured regulator, 14 August 2019
- (r) The time to act is now: Fracking risks do not require further study, 22 July 2019
- (r) How much is BC giving to natural gas companies?, 24 June 2019
- (r) LNG’s big lie, 17 June 2019
- BC’s LNG tax breaks and subsidies offside with the need for climate action, 9 May 2019
- Memo to northeast BC: More fracking earthquakes ahead, 30 April 2019
- Shaking the Peace: Fracking-induced earthquakes rattle BC Hydro execs and farmers alike, 21 March 2019
- How clean is a BC that subsidizes accelerated fossil fuel extraction?, 25 February 2019
Vox
- (r) More natural gas isn’t a “middle ground” — it’s a climate disaster, 30 May 2019
Canada’s National Observer
- A Shell insider is behind LNG Canada’s disputed claim about reducing carbon pollution, 4 March 2020
- Greta’s in B.C. How does our climate pollution compare to Sweden’s?, 25 October 2019
- CleanBC vs LNG. Here’s the ‘missing chart’ that explains the gap, 20 December 2018
- LNG vs climate. Five charts show the burden on British Columbians, 8 November 2018
The Tyee
- (n, r) Green Myths Canada’s LNG Sales Force Tells the World, 23 January 2020
- UK Ban Adds to the Tremors Taking Down the Fracking Industry, 7 November 2019
Focus on Victoria
- LNG too risky, despite generous subsidies Jan/Feb 2020, 7 November 2019
The Globe & Mail
- (n) No, Canada can’t save the planet by exporting more natural gas, 12 December 2019
- (n) LNG industry long way off with plan to help meet climate targets, Environment Minister says, 8 December 2019
CBC News
Global News
- Major new energy projects, like Shell’s LNG Canada, don’t gel with Paris targets: report, 5 September 2019
The Climate Reality Project
- 3 Big Myths about Natural Gas and our Climate, 6 July 2018