VANCOUVER / UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh AND səlilwətaɬ TERRITORIES — Following welcome news that the world has agreed for the first time ever to transition away from fossil fuels, the Wilderness Committee is calling on provincial and federal governments to abandon their support for new oil and gas infrastructure.

“While the deal struck in Dubai is not as strong on phasing out fossil fuels as we would’ve liked to see, it’s clear demand for oil and gas must decline as quickly as possible,” said Climate Campaigner Peter McCartney. “One simply does not build new liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants and tar sands pipelines if you believe the words of the agreement the whole world just signed.”

Canada’s climate policy has been a mixed bag, with efforts to limit pollution — including the recently announced oil and gas emissions cap — undermined by continued approvals of new projects to export more fossil fuels to the world.

“Today’s agreement shows just how incoherent Canada’s climate policy has been when it comes to the oil and gas industry and fossil fuel exports,” said McCartney. “Provincial and federal governments continue to operate as if the rest of the world is not actively working to reduce its use of these products.”

B.C. Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have both approved new LNG plants on the west coast of British Columbia, where five such proposals would require a massive expansion of fracking in the Montney shale basin in the northeast corner of the province.

“These LNG companies expect to export fracked gas for decades to come, but the agreement Canada just signed with the entire global community condemns them to be shut down before their investments are even paid off,” said McCartney. “Every permit granted for these new fossil fuel projects is another grave mistake we’re leaving to future leaders with more courage to undo.”

–30–

For more information, please contact:

Peter McCartney | Climate Campaigner
778-239-1935, peter@wildernesscommittee.org