Under B.C.’s new climate plan, Pacific NorthWest LNG and its associated upstream operations will become one of Canada’s largest carbon polluters if the full project proceeds as proposed.
VANCOUVER / COAST SALISH TERRITORY — The ineffectiveness of British Columbia’s new climate plan is underscored by the looming threat posed by the Pacific NorthWest LNG project to the province’s emissions targets.
The Pembina Institute released today a new infographic quantifying the potential environmental impacts of PNW LNG in the context of the incomplete Climate Leadership Plan, unveiled in August. The updated analysis was included in a letter to the federal minister of environment and climate change, Catherine McKenna.
As the infographic emphasizes, the climate plan fails to show any way the province can achieve its legislated emissions target for 2050 if the Petronas-backed project, near Prince Rupert, proceeds as proposed.
PNW LNG is being reviewed by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The Pembina Institute’s perspective is that the federal government should reject the project, because the B.C. government has failed to put forward a plan for LNG development that will allow the province to meet its climate targets.
Under the climate plan, B.C.’s emissions will likely flat-line over the next 15 years. To get back on track for its emissions targets — and do its part in Canada’s climate-change efforts — the B.C. government should implement the full package of recommendations from its expert advisory panel, the Climate Leadership Team.
Quick facts
- Carbon pollution from the two phases of the Pacific NorthWest LNG plant and its associated upstream operations could reach 9.2 million tonnes (Mt) by 2030 and increase to 10.0 Mt by 2050, under the policies in B.C.’s new climate plan.
- B.C.’s legislated climate target for 2050 is 13 Mt of carbon pollution.
- PNW LNG could result in the drilling of 258 extra shale-gas wells and the usage of 5.1 million cubic metres of fresh water per year.
- The project’s potential environmental impacts in 2030 are comparable to the carbon pollution of 1.9 million cars on the road and the residential fresh-water use of 56,000 Canadians.
Quotes
“Allowing Pacific NorthWest LNG to proceed would put B.C.’s climate targets out of reach and present a serious obstacle to Canada’s climate ambitions. Therefore, the federal government should say no to Pacific NorthWest LNG.”
— Matt Horne, B.C. associate director, Pembina Institute (and Climate Leadership Team member)
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Download the infographic: Pacific NorthWest LNG: B.C.’s climate plan fails to limit emissions
Read the letter: Pacific NorthWest LNG’s carbon pollution under B.C.’s new climate plan
Join the conversation on Twitter: #PNWLNG #BCClimatePlan @Pembina
Contact
Stephen Hui
Communications Lead, Pembina Institute
778-987-7654
stephenh@pembina.org
Background
Blog: 5 things you need to know about B.C.’s new climate plan
Media release: B.C. climate plan leaves hard work for a later day
Blog: Pacific NorthWest LNG: Correcting B.C.’s carbon pollution math
Backgrounder: Can Pacific NorthWest LNG pass Canada’s climate test?