Sierra Club BC statement on changes to federal environmental assessments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VICTORIA—Sierra Club BC released the following statement from climate and energy campaigner, Larissa Stendie, in response to Ministers Carr and McKenna’s announcement of new rules for reviewing resource proposals.
“While we applaud the federal government for taking steps to improve our broken environmental assessment processes, and for promising to improve First Nations consultation, these adjustments simply do not go far enough to restore the legitimacy of environmental review process.
“We are concerned that today’s announcement is simply to provide cover for projects that will massively increase emissions and betray Canada’s climate commitments.
“We need a robust climate test that includes both upstream and downstream impacts. If we merely export our climate burden downstream to be burned in more loosely regulated regions, Canada is not taking responsibility for our global impacts.
“Our report, Blind Spot: the Failure to Consider Climate in British Columbia’s Environmental Assessments, shows how implementing a climate test that combines scientific rigour with real teeth will help Canada meet its Paris commitment to keep global warming below 1.5⁰C, while encouraging a shift to climate-friendly renewable energy.
“We look forward to seeing a more comprehensive plan to revamp the environmental assessment process in a manner that truly protects the public interest and our environment.”
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A copy of Blind Spot can be downloaded here.
Contact:
Larissa Stendie
Climate and Energy Campaigner
Sierra Club BC
250 891 8245
