Representatives of five of British Columbia’s largest environmental organizations gathered outside the B.C. Cabinet offices today to deliver more than 110,000 petition signatures opposing fracking and LNG expansion.
Stand. Earth, Wilderness Committee, Dogwood BC, My Sea To Sky, and the David Suzuki Foundation delivered the 113,987 signature petition to send a strong message to the oil and gas industry and the B.C. government. In a press release, the organization said tens of thousands of people know that the risk of building more fossil fuel projects is simply too great.
“The climate science — combined with the deteriorating economic outlook for LNG — should make the choice clear for the B.C. government in helping chart a course to a livable planet for all,” the press release said.
Inside the Canada Gas Exhibition and Conference nearby, fossil fuel executives argue for a massive expansion of LNG export projects up and down B.C.’s coast, leading to a boom in new fracking wells drilled in the Peace River Valley. They do so as market prospects for B.C. LNG fade, rapidly growing the possibility of LNG projects now being considered in the province becoming stranded assets, the press release stated.
With yet another record-breaking wildfire season looming and global temperatures continuing to rise, protesters will gather outside the conference to make it clear to the oil and gas lobbyists gathered inside that there is no room for their increasingly lethal products in a climate-safe world, the press release added.
Activists also painted a temporary mural at the exact location to draw attention to the growing opposition to fracking and LNG.
Speaking about the urgency of the moment and the importance of the petitions being delivered today, Stand.earth’s senior oil and gas campaigner Kiki Wood said, “The voices of more than 75,000 British Columbians are here with us today to demand an end to fracking and LNG buildout. The science is clear that fossil fuel expansion — including B.C. LNG — will lead to runaway climate change globally. We demand accountability from our elected officials and the gas executives meeting here today to put a climate-safe future for British Columbians before corporate profits.”
Peter McCartney, Wilderness Committee’s climate campaigner said, “As the climate crisis brings drought, wildfires, heat waves, floods and storms to every corner of the province, the B.C. NDP government’s pursuit of new LNG terminals and an explosion of fracking is unacceptable. It’s time the province had a plan to end gas extraction and support the communities and workers who rely on it to transition to a clean economy.”
Alexandra Woodsworth, Dogwood’s organizing director said, “As oil and gas executives gather to greenwash their dirty product and lobby for more support from politicians, let’s remember that the majority of British Columbians want to see our province invest in renewables, not more LNG. Communities want to be kept safe from the fires, floods, boom-and-bust jobs and rising bills that more fracking and LNG will bring to this province. It’s time for the B.C. government to stand up for safe communities, not fracking companies.”
Severn Cullis-Suzuki, David Suzuki Foundation executive director said, “Expanding the LNG industry means putting billions of dollars into a sunsetting industry and the growing risk of stranded assets — along with the unacceptable risk of making the climate crisis worse. Our elected leaders should not spend one more penny supporting fossil fuel projects. There is a path to a clean economy powered by renewable energy and there is no place for LNG on that path.”
