Fossil fuel subsidies undermine climate action
December 2019
On November 25, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) released a shocking report on how fossil fuel subsidies are undermining B.C.’s efforts on climate change.
The report, called Locked In and Losing Out, showed that BC’s fossil fuel subsidies reached $830 million in 2017–2018. New subsidies continue to be created, including significant support for the fracked gas industry.
Sierra Club BC has applauded the B.C. government for introducing the CleanBC plan and the Climate Change Accountability Act as crucial, much-needed steps to address the climate crisis.
But these provincial fossil fuel subsidies undermine the CleanBC plan and hold the province back from meeting its targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
And without ensuring the legislation includes regular reviews to bring B.C.’s climate targets in line with the science, and without shifting subsidies away from fossil fuels, B.C.’s actions will lock families into facing even worse climate risks. For those of us who are working hard to reduce our carbon footprints, it’s dangerous and unfair of our government to be giving massive handouts to fracking and LNG companies that expand fossil fuels and add fuel to the fire of climate change.
These subsidies undermine B.C.’s ability to meet climate targets, put B.C. communities at risk of worsening climate impacts, and must end.
The risks are real. In July, the B.C. government’s preliminary climate risk assessment report showed that we’re at high risk of severe wildfire seasons, seasonal water shortages, heat waves, ocean acidification, glacier loss and long term water shortage. It spoke of ‘catastrophic’ economic consequences, loss of life and loss of social cohesion.
We can and must expect our government to shift subsidies away from fossil fuel production and instead invest in a just transition to a clean, renewable energy economy so we can have a safe and healthy future for all.
Sierra Club BC supports the recommendations of IISD to review and make available all data related to subsidies, create an action plan to phase out subsidies, coordinate with the Government of Canada as it reviews federal fossil fuel subsidies, and ensure no new fossil fuel subsidies are created.
In B.C., we need to see strong climate targets based on science, not more fossil fuel subsidies, fracking and LNG development.
Please tell Premier Horgan you want real climate leadership – not LNG!
TJ Watt/Ancient Forest Alliance