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BC approves another LNG terminal and announces a new energy framework

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Additional fracked gas production threatens provincial climate targets, energy plans could keep other countries dependent on fossil fuels

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March 15, 2023

VANCOUVER/UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (MUSQUEAM), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) TERRITORIES –

The B.C. government approved the Cedar LNG project near Kitimat, while also announcing a new energy framework for the province yesterday afternoon. The latter includes developing a cap for emissions from the oil and gas sector in B.C., but not for the overall production of oil and gas, primarily for export. This means that uncounted emissions from burning fossil fuels extracted and exported from B.C. could continue to grow, even if emissions from new LNG facilities in B.C. can be reduced. The Cedar LNG project approved yesterday would produce 3 million tonnes of LNG annually, resulting in 7.8 million tonnes of emissions when burned, for comparison, the entire annual emissions of the city of Vancouver are about 6.5 million tonnes.  

Like the LNG Canada project, the Cedar LNG project would be fed with fracked gas by the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Starting in 2025, LNG Canada phase 1 is expected to produce 14 million tonnes of LNG per year, which will result in 36.4 million tonnes of emissions when burned (more than half B.C.’s current annual emissions).   

The new rules will require new proposed LNG facilities that are not yet approved to pass an emissions test with a “credible plan to be net zero by 2030”—meaning already-approved projects, like Cedar, are not subject to this new rule. The new rules also continue to ignore the additional emissions related to fracking, pipelines, shipping and regasification, including leakage of the powerful greenhouse gas methane. The framework will also put in place a regulatory emissions cap for the oil and gas industry “to ensure B.C. meets its 2030 emissions-reduction target for the sector,” a challenge that will become much greater in coming years with the additional growth in LNG capacity. Further, using B.C.’s electricity supply to power new LNG terminals could make it more difficult to electrify other sectors of the economy, which is key to reducing emissions here at home.  

“The announcement of the new framework signals that the province is seeking to reduce climate pollution from new LNG facilities and shift from fossil fuel extraction to a clean economy mid to long-term. But the two announcements combined show that the B.C. government remains on a path of cognitive dissonance during the climate crisis, seeking to reduce emissions with one hand while increasing them with the other by issuing permits for new fossil fuel projects that are incompatible with a livable climate for present and future generations,” said Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner. “Premier Eby said it best, before being sworn in last year: ‘We cannot continue to expand fossil-fuel infrastructure and hit our climate goals.’ This announcement has the potential to constrain future LNG capacity but it’s too early to tell whether the framework will include adequate regulation to prevent the worst impacts of the climate emergency.”   

The approval of another LNG terminal is especially concerning considering B.C.’s 2022 climate change accountability report, which revealed that the province will fail to meet climate targets in 2025 and 2030. The government projects that B.C. will miss its 2025 overall emissions target by 15 percent, the same year LNG Canada, a fracked gas export facility in Kitimat, B.C., is expected to start operations, leading to millions more tonnes of carbon pollution for decades to come.  

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Media contacts:

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner | Sierra Club BC
jens@sierraclub.bc.ca, (604) 354-5312

Thousands rally at BC Legislature demanding immediate action for old growth forests

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Speakers, demonstrators call on Premier Eby to fulfill 100-day pledge and accelerate action for at-risk old growth

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February 25, 2023

Lekwungen Territories (Victoria, B.C.) – On his 100th day in office, Premier David Eby was faced with a united call from thousands of people demanding he fulfill his pledge and work with First Nations to protect at-risk old growth and reform forest stewardship.

Photos and videos are available here.

Thousands marched through the downtown core of the province’s capital, led by Indigenous Peoples and drummers. Demonstrators raised banners, mobile murals and 3D art pieces through the streets, featuring endangered forest species. The march culminated in a rally in front of the BC Legislature. Speakers included Indigenous leaders and land defenders, scientists, and a surprise musical appearance from Neil Young.

“Old growth forests are vital for the health our lands and waters, our salmon and our culture, and the days of cutting them down need to end,” said walas ‘Namugwis, David Knox, a Kwakwaka’wakw Hereditary Chief and member of the Kwakiutl Nation. “Too much land in our territory has been destroyed, and this continues without the free, prior and informed consent of our chiefs and people.”

More than 220 organizations have now signed onto the United for Old Growth declaration, including the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association and the BC Teachers’ Federation Committee for Action on Social Justice. Initial signatories to the declaration are the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), Elders for Ancient Trees, Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth, and Wilderness Committee.

“Old growth forests are crucial ecosystems that humanity depends on⁠—an irreplaceable result of millions of years of evolution,” said Janelle Lapointe, and Afro-Indigenous climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer from the Stellat’en First Nation. “We must reject status quo politics that tell us we must choose between providing for our families and protecting the land, watersheds and forests that sustain us.”

Signatories and participants in this march and rally called on Premier David Eby and the BC NDP government to honour their promise to move faster to protect old growth forests and reform forest stewardship across the province. Today aligns with Eby’s 100th day in office, and demonstrators are looking to the Premier to take immediate, concrete steps to put at-risk old growth forests off limits to industrial logging – as a central part in fulfilling his 100-day pledge to accelerate action on old growth.

“Human beings have become the dominant factor altering the physical, chemical and biological properties of the planet on a geological scale,” said David Suzuki, biologist and broadcaster. “In a critical moment when climate change and mass species extinction are undeniable, it’s an intergenerational crime to trash these priceless treasures for short term economic and political benefits.”

The BC NDP government promised to implement all 14 recommendations from the Old Growth Strategic Review in 2020, including to immediately stop (or defer) logging in the most at-risk old growth forests. The recommendations had specific implementation timelines, ranging from six months for deferrals to three years for establishing a robust monitoring system – but to this day not a single recommendation has been fulfilled, despite recent announcements from the BC government. The majority of the most at-risk old growth forests identified by the Technical Advisory Panel have not yet been deferred, and are still being destroyed.

March and rally organizers say the Declaration will remain a rallying point for old growth and invite more signatories to join to increase momentum and pressure on Premier Eby the B.C. NDP government to fulfill their pledge.

 

Featured image by Mya Van Woudenberg.

210+ groups call on B.C. to fulfill old growth pledge ahead of February 25 rally in Victoria

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Organizers expect thousands of demonstrators at the Legislature next weekend

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February 15, 2023

Unceded Lekwungen Territories (Victoria, B.C.) – Organizers behind the United For Old Growth rally say momentum is building for a giant mobilization in Victoria in less than ten days. Rallying behind a declaration signed by more than 210 organizations, participants in this march and rally will call on Premier David Eby and the BC NDP government to honour their promise to move faster to protect old-growth forests and reform forest stewardship across the province.

Signatories include the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association and the BC Teachers’ Federation Committee for Action on Social Justice. Initial signatories to the declaration are the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), Elders for Ancient Trees, Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth, and Wilderness Committee. Many of the hundreds of endorsing groups are organizing contingents to join the February 25 rally.

“Make no mistake, due to decades of lack of oversight and mismanagement, old growth forests in BC are in a state of disaster,” said Chief James Hobart of the Spuzzum First Nation. “The priority of the BC NDP government seems to be to continue to greenlight the old-growth onslaught, but together we can send a clear message to the NDP and change that light to red.”

The February 25 event will begin with a march from Centennial Square at noon, followed by a rally on the front lawn B.C. Legislature at 1:30 p.m. Rally organizers are inviting everyone to attend and to bring banners and art for the march. 

Speakers and performers at the rally include: 

  • Chief James Hobart, Spuzzum First Nation 
  • Kwakwaka’wakw Hereditary Chief David Knox, Kwakiutl First Nation 
  • Janelle Lapointe, Afro-Indigenous climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer, Stellat’en First Nation
  • Elder Bill Jones, Pacheedaht First Nation
  • Rainbow Eyes, land defender, Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation
  • David Suzuki, legendary environmentalist and broadcaster
  • Dr. Karen Price, independent ecologist and provincial Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel member
  • Christina Enns, Tla-o-qui-aht/Dakota youth 
  • ANSWER Women’s Drum Group

The walk from Centennial Square will be led by drummers from local First Nations, and feature a strong artistic component –for several months hundreds of artists and volunteers have been creating banners, mobile murals and 3D art pieces in preparation for the rally.

The United We Stand for Old Growth declaration calls on the BC government to keep its promises, including to immediately halt logging in the most at-risk forests; provide full financial support to First Nations and implement a just transition for forest communities; and ensure all forest-related decisions uphold First Nations Title and Rights.

“Old-growth forests are a critical element to prevent the worst ravages of the climate crisis. Not only are they carbon sinks, but they stop erosion, prevent forest fires and inhibit flooding,” said Tara Ehrcke, Ditta Cross, and Sarah Newton of the BC Teachers’ Federation Committee for Action on Social Justice. “We owe it to those already suffering from climate catastrophes, and to all the world’s children, to do everything in our power to maintain a liveable planet. The government has set up a blueprint for primary forest protection: we have to ensure they act on it.” 

The declaration is gaining steam ahead of a February 25 march and rally, as thousands of people prepare to come together for old-growth forests on the unceded territories of Lekwungen-speaking peoples in Victoria, B.C. The rally is being held on Eby’s 100th day in office, aligning with the timeline of his pledge to accelerate action on old growth within his first 100 days.

“The strategic review panel made its recommendations long ago. Why are logging companies, even the government’s own logging company, BC Timber Sales, still logging in deferrals? This is a pointless and harmful game. The stakes could not be higher; the very future of our children is at risk. BC has already been experiencing devastating floods, landslides, and forest fires; what more must happen for government and big business to stand in solidarity with their fellow humans and the ecosystems that keep us all alive?” said organizers with Old Growth Revylution, which is hosting a parallel rally in Revelstoke on February 25.

The BC NDP government promised to implement all 14 recommendations from the Old Growth Strategic Review in 2020, including to immediately stop (or defer) logging in the most at-risk old-growth forests. The recommendations had specific implementation timelines, ranging from six months for deferrals to three years for establishing a robust monitoring system – but to this day not a single recommendation has been fulfilled, and old growth and at-risk forests mapped for deferral are still being destroyed. Over the same period, over 1,100 people have been arrested while peacefully defending old-growth forests in multiple regions of B.C.

The United We Stand for Old Growth Declaration remains open to additional signatories. Groups are encouraged to sign prior to the rally on February 25 and attend the demonstration with their community.

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Contact:

For rally logistics questions, including accessibility: 

Torrance Coste, torrance@wildernesscommittee.org, +1 (250) 516-9900

Jackie Larkin, jlarkin@gddc.com, +1 (250) 478-7604

For interview: 

Chief James Hobart, chief@spuzzumnation.com, + 1 (604) 860-3571

Tara Ehrcke, tara.ehrcke@icloud.com, +1 (250) 886-9386

For other inquiries: 

Tegan Hansen, tegan@stand.earth, +1 (250) 354-3302

Jens Wieting, jens@sierraclub.bc.ca, +1 (604) 354-5312

 

Poster design: Emily Thiessen

Removal of timber priority from forestry regulation can clear the path for paradigm-shift

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But B.C. government old-growth announcement leaves fate of most at-risk old-growth forests uncertain

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February 15, 2023

VANCOUVER/UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (MUSQUEAM), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) TERRITORIES – Sierra Club BC welcomes the province’s repeal of wording in the Forest and Range Practices Act regulations that prioritizes timber supply over all other forest objectives, including water quality, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity.

“Removing timber bias language from forestry laws can clear the path for the paradigm shift outlined in the Old-Growth panel recommendations the province promised to implement with Indigenous Nations. But we need the promised acceleration in implementation before it’s too late to safeguard at-risk forests and restore degraded forests,” said Jens Wieting, Sierra Club BC’s Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner.

Sierra Club BC is very concerned, however, about the lack of details and transparency on protecting old-growth forests in today’s announcement. In 2021, the province shared expert mapping showing the 2.6 million hectares of old-growth forest in B.C. that is most at-risk, and recommended logging deferrals in those areas. Today’s announcement did not state how much of these forests have been deferred from logging, offering only a broad-brush update on overall old-growth deferrals instead. In April 2022, less than half of the most at-risk old-growth forests were deferred from logging (1.05 million hectares).

“Today’s announcement leaves people in B.C. uncertain about whether we are safeguarding the most at-risk old-growth forests in this province, which are also among the rarest on the planet. We are still stuck at the most basic and urgent step on the path towards full implementation of the promised paradigm-shift in forest stewardship to safeguard biodiversity,” said Shelley Luce, Campaigns Director at Sierra Club BC.

Some more positive steps in today’s announcement include new funding for regional land-use planning as well as for manufacturing jobs that will create more jobs per tree cut in B.C. These programs can support transition in the forestry sector, provided that solutions to safeguard at-risk forests and restore degraded landscapes are in place.

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Media contacts:

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner | Sierra Club BC
jens@sierraclub.bc.ca, (604) 354-5312

 

Featured photo by TJ Watt/Ancient Forest Alliance.

B.C. Supreme Court hands down precedent-setting ruling on climate accountability case brought by environmental groups

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 17, 2023

VANCOUVER/UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (MUSQUEAM), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) TERRITORIES – Today, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled on a landmark 2022 climate case brought by Ecojustice on behalf of Sierra Club BC. In the case, Sierra Club BC alleged that the B.C. government failed to adequately report on its progress to reach its climate targets, as required by the province’s climate law.  

In a first-of-its-kind victory for climate accountability in Canada, the court ruled that the reporting requirements of B.C.’s climate law, including the provision to report on plans to reach climate targets, are enforceable by the court. This sets an important legal precedent not only for B.C., but also across Canada, as it means that climate change accountability legislation can be interpreted and enforced by courts when governments fail to meet reporting requirements. 

The Court also agreed that B.C.’s progress to date on meeting its climate targets has been “disappointing” and that the province has a “consistent history of missing its targets”. However, this court found that the legislation does not require the government to tell the people of B.C. whether it is on track to achieve our climate targets. Sierra Club BC has 30 days to decide whether to appeal this decision and will continue to strongly advocate for true climate accountability in British Columbia.  

The Court’s ruling today puts the B.C. government and others across Canada on notice that legal commitments to act big on climate must be followed by real and meaningful action.  

Alan Andrews, Climate Program Director at Ecojustice said: 

“Today’s decision doesn’t change the fact that B.C. is not on track to meet its 2025 and 2030 climate targets and has several gaping holes in its climate plan. This law was supposed to put an end to the province’s dismal track record of missed targets by requiring the government to tell British Columbians if B.C. is on track so that the public can hold them to account. This is an opportunity for Premier David Eby to show real leadership by urgently coming forward with a credible plan that gets B.C on track to meeting its climate targets – the urgency of the climate crisis demands it, even if the courts don’t.” 

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner and Science Advisor at Sierra Club BC said: 

“Today’s ruling contains good news, bad news and an inconvenient truth. The good news is that the court agreed with us that people in B.C. have a right to hold their government accountable to follow its climate law. The bad news is that the Court finds the B.C. government’s reporting to be sufficient to meet the law’s requirements, even though that reporting does not tell us whether B.C. is actually on track to meet all of its climate targets. The inconvenient truth is that without greater transparency and stronger action plans, people in B.C. cannot trust that this province will meet its climate targets and prevent even more catastrophic climate impacts.” 

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Background

About:

Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions and law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.

Sierra Club BC is an environmental non-profit working to support people stewarding abundant ecosystems and a stable climate, while building resilient, equitable communities. The organization strives to do this by upholding Indigenous rights and title, reconnecting children and youth with nature, supporting grassroots-led climate action, and advocating for old-growth protection.

 

Media contacts:

Eric Wright, Communications Manager | Ecojustice
ewright@ecojustice.ca.

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner | Sierra Club BC
jens@sierraclub.bc.ca

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