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Tag Archive for: Sierra Club BC

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No more talk and pave — fund affordable public transit for all of BC

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Over 65 groups sign six-point letter on B.C.’s proposed Clean Transportation Action Plan.

March 23, 2023

Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh) First Nations (Vancouver) — More than 65 organizations have signed on to a six-point open letter calling on Premier David Eby and the B.C. NDP government to immediately reallocate infrastructure funds away from highway expansion toward public transit and active transportation.

Signatories include the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST), HUB Cycling, Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth, Wilderness Committee, David Suzuki Foundation, University of Victoria Students’ Society, and the Amalgamated Transit Union.

“An author of this week’s IPCC synthesis report said ‘misaligned finance is holding back progress.’ And B.C.’s transportation budget needs a major realignment to fit with our provincial climate targets,” says Eric Doherty, a transportation planning consultant and member of Climate Justice Victoria. “It makes no sense to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on urban highway expansion while doing consultation on a plan to reduce traffic 25 percent by 2030. We can’t afford years of talk and pave.”

The letter urges the B.C. government to demonstrate its commitment to emergency-level climate action, human health and wellbeing, and equity and affordability.

“The Clean Transportation Action Plan cannot be just about the ridership in big urban centres, but must deliver reliable and accessible public transit to and from First Nations and small towns,” said Chief Marilyn Slett, secretary-treasurer of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “Providing safe and affordable transportation services is essential not only to reduce transportation emissions, but also to act on the Calls to Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.”

The first recommendation in the letter is to “make affordable, accessible, and convenient electric public transit within and between all communities a top priority.”

The open letter also calls for prioritizing funding for projects that reallocate road space from cars to transit lanes, protected bike and roll lanes, and pedestrian priority spaces.

“Investing in active and public transportation infrastructure is key, not only to face the current climate emergency, but to create enjoyable communities and achieve mobility justice for all,” said Pablo Zacarias, executive director of Better Environmentally Sound Transportation. “People are ready for change. We have a growing population of seniors who no longer drive, families that are choosing to bike to school, and the younger generations that are just not interested in owning a car.”

The definitive IPCC Sixth Assessment Report on climate mitigation states that “transformative changes in the transport sector(…) are needed to meet climate targets.”

“It isn’t enough to just switch from fossil fuel cars and trucks to electric vehicles; B.C.’s Clean Transportation Action Plan must be transformative,” said Shelley Luce, Sierra Club BC’s director of campaigns. “It will take a lot of electric buses, bus lanes, and protected bike and roll lanes to reduce traffic by 25 percent in only seven years.”

“Rapidly electrifying the transportation sector, including trucks and buses, is essential as we build safer, cleaner, more sustainable communities,” said Logan McIntosh, SAFE Cities campaign director at Stand.earth.”And that’s exactly what we hope to see as part of B.C.’s Clean Transportation Action Plan.”

Additional groups can sign on to the open letter at bcclimateemergency.ca/sign-on until March 31. The B.C. government is accepting input on the proposed Clean Transportation Action Plan from groups and individuals until April 5.

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The full letter with a list of endorsing groups can be viewed here.

 

For more information, please contact:

Eric Doherty, Transportation planning consultant and member of Climate Justice Victoria
250-818-8223, eric@ecoplanning.ca

Shelley Luce, Director of Campaigns – Sierra Club of BC
604-774-5730, shelley@sierraclub.bc.ca

 

 

Report Card: More than half of the most endangered old-growth forests in B.C. remain at risk

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Environmental organizations warn that time to implement B.C.’s old growth promises is running out, as B.C. NDP government continues to score failing grades; at-risk old growth stands equivalent to 3,600 Stanley Parks remain open to logging

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

March 16, 2023

VICTORIA / UNCEDED LEKWUNGEN TERRITORIES — Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth and the Wilderness Committee issued their fifth report card assessing the B.C. government’s progress on implementing the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review (OGSR) today. The report card comes 2.5 years into the provincial government’s three-year timeline for implementing all 14 recommendations from the OGSR. 

The environmental organizations give the province failing grades on key issues ranging from short-term action on funding for conservation, changing course in forest stewardship, and transparency. They are especially concerned about the lack of interim protection for the most at-risk old-growth forests, a step the OGSR panel recommended for implementation within the first six months of the three-year timeline. To date, more than half of the most at-risk old-growth forests remain open to logging (1.44 million hectares, equivalent to about 3,600 Stanley Parks).

“With just six months left in a three-year timeline, it’s astounding that the B.C. NDP is still earning such poor grades on its old growth pledge. Forests and communities need immediate, bold action now,” said Tegan Hansen, senior forest campaigner at Stand.earth. “Premier Eby still has an opportunity to live up to his promise and immediately correct course, but he has to act quickly – before these irreplaceable forests are destroyed forever.”

Giant old-growth clearcut in a proposed deferral area. Photo credit: Alex Tsui, Wilderness Committee

A lack of transparency and ongoing misinformation continues to reflect poorly on the B.C. government’s old growth pledge. In February, the province announced that logging had been deferred across 2.1 million hectares of old-growth forests, but omitted that this number leaves the majority of the most at-risk old growth open to logging. 

“Forests in B.C. are in a state of ecological emergency. Like providing first aid to stop the bleeding, offering the support needed to set aside all of the remaining at-risk old growth stands remains the most urgent step on the path to a paradigm-shift in forest stewardship,” said Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner at Sierra Club BC. “Ongoing failure would be unforgivable and quash options for long-term solutions to support ecological integrity and the well-being of communities.”

In November, the province claimed that the annual old growth logging rate had fallen to a record low, but its own limited data showed that the annual amount of old growth logged was almost identical in the year before and after the province promised to protect old growth (151 soccer fields per day in 2019/2020 and 147 soccer fields per day in 2021).      

“None of the recommendations of the OGSR being completed means the status quo logging of threatened ancient forests continues across most of B.C., jeopardizing the B.C. NDP’s stated goals on old growth, biodiversity, and climate change,” said Torrance Coste, national campaign director for the Wilderness Committee. “While Premier Eby and his government continue to take credit on these issues, the best remaining old-growth forests continue to be destroyed on their watch.”

Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director Torrance Coste standing on an old-growth stump in a clearcut in a deferral area. Photo credit: Alex Tsui, Wilderness Committee

The report card follows the United for Old Growth rally on Lekwungen territories in Victoria two weeks ago, where thousands marched in support of the United We Stand for Old Growth declaration signed by more than 220 groups from across B.C.   

The OGSR report was released September 11, 2020 and makes detailed recommendations to keep at-risk old-growth forests standing and overhaul forest stewardship. The B.C. NDP pledged to implement the recommendations in their “totality” in 2020, and in fall 2022 Premier David Eby pledged to “accelerate action” on old growth within his first 100 days in office. However, with just six months remaining in its three-year timeline, the B.C. NDP government has so far completed none of the panel’s 14 recommendations.

In 2021, the province released the findings of its Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), stating its intention to pause logging in 2.6 million hectares of the most at-risk old-growth forests and engage with First Nations to defer logging in these areas. But the province never allocated adequate funding to address the economic impacts of logging deferrals. A long expected conservation financing mechanism was recently announced, but no dollar figure has been committed. Hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to address barriers for First Nations under economic pressure, which make it difficult to support logging deferrals, as well as to fund Indigenous land use visions and conservation initiatives. 

Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth, and the Wilderness Committee will continue to mobilize the public, document ongoing old growth logging and partner with First Nations, community groups, municipalities, unions and businesses to advance meaningful protection for threatened old-growth forests and a paradigm shift that puts ecological integrity and the wellbeing of communities over short-term timber values.

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View the full report card here

Photos of old growth and clearcuts

Photos of the old-growth rally

 

For more information, please contact:

Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner, Stand.earth
250-354-3302, tegan@stand.earth

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner/Science Advisor, Sierra Club BC
604-354 5312, jens@sierraclub.bc.ca

Torrance Coste, National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee
torrance@wildernesscommittee.org

 

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

Latest B.C. climate accountability report shows the province is set to miss key climate targets in 2025 and 2030

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The report is also missing information about how the province plans to meet its longer-term targets, as well as those tied to emissions in the oil & gas sector

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 28, 2022

VANCOUVER/UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (MUSQUEAM), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) TERRITORIES – On Wednesday Nov. 23, the B.C. government released its 2022 climate change accountability report, revealing that the province is on course to miss two near-term climate targets in 2025 and 2030. The government projects that B.C. will miss its 2025 overall emissions target by 15 percent and its 2030 target in the building and communities sector by at least 35 percent. 

In a time of climate crisis, when people in British Columbia are facing unprecedented and deadly heat waves, floods, and droughts, it is unacceptable that the government has failed to plan to meet its near-term climate targets. This failure will worsen the climate crisis and put people in B.C. at risk.  

The 2022 report also contains major information gaps. It fails to explain how the province intends to achieve its longer-term climate targets due in 2040 and 2050. And, when it comes to a crucial target in the oil & gas sector due in 2030, the government continues to rely on a “plan to make a plan” —  that is, policies that have not been articulated and do not yet exist.  

The report also fails to explain the major role of fracking in undermining B.C.’s climate action. LNG Canada, a fracked gas export facility in Kitimat, B.C., is expected to start operations in 2025, leading to millions more tonnes of carbon pollution in that target year and for decades to come. Worse, plans to expand the facility (already approved by B.C.) would make it virtually impossible for B.C. to meet its longer-term targets and commitment to reach net zero by 2050. B.C. simply cannot square its promotion of fracked gas and LNG projects with its climate targets. 

These reports have been a sore spot for the government. In March 2022, Sierra Club BC and Ecojustice launched a lawsuit alleging that the government’s 2021 report failed to include plans to make progress towards B.C.’s 2025, 2040, and 2050 climate targets as well as the critical 2030 target for the oil & gas sector. A decision by the court is expected soon. 

New premier David Eby has an opportunity to reset B.C.’s approach to climate action and accountability. By acting immediately, Eby can ensure B.C. meets all its climate targets. It is critical that B.C. ban new LNG facilities and commit to phasing out fracked gas in line with climate science.

As we wait for a court decision on whether B.C. is complying with its own climate law, Ecojustice and Sierra Club BC will continue to hold the government to account for getting on track towards its climate targets and staying there in the years to come. 

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

“The 2022 report shines some light on the steps that will lead to reducing emissions in several sectors. But it leaves us in the dark about major gaps and threats on the uncharted path to our 2025 to 2050 targets. A path that will lead us into climate chaos if big polluters like B.C. continue to fail. The biggest elephant in the room is new fracking infrastructure like LNG Canada and the Coastal GasLink Pipeline. Unless stopped, these projects will make it impossible to meet our targets. Ignoring the threat of new LNG projects in these reports won’t make it go away.” 

Alan Andrews, Climate Program Director at Ecojustice said:

“This law was meant to deliver a new era of transparency and accountability on climate action. But it took being dragged to court for the Government to admit that they are on course to miss their next climate target.” 

“In the middle of a climate emergency, we can’t afford any more missed targets. David Eby must act immediately to get B.C. back on track and show real climate leadership.” 

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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
604-685-5618 ext. 525, ewright@ecojustice.ca.

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

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