Background

The vast majority of “natural” gas comes from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in northeast BC. 2,000 new wells will be needed to fill the expanded Tilbury LNG plant over the next 30 years. The Phase 2 massive expansion will provide 8 times the storage capacity and 174 times the liquefaction capacity of the original plant. FortisBC’s goal is for Tilbury to become a major export and refuelling plant. 

Tilbury LNG poses enormous risk to its neighbours in Delta and Richmond as it violates international guidelines for siting such terminals. The plant and terminal are in a very narrow part of the South Arm of the Fraser River. A major spill could engulf surrounding neighbourhoods in flames up to 3.5km away. Click here to see maps of the Fraser River LNG Hazard Zone. 

The process of fracking is deeply polluting. It can poison the air, contaminate the water and soil, and imperil the lives of those who live close by the well. Findings from more than 17,000 studies, articles, and reports show that fracking activities are associated with a host of health problems including lung disease, cancer and birth defects. 

It is no wonder that there is a ban or moratorium on fracking in France, Germany, the UK, and four Canadian provinces: Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.

Methane is the main component of natural gas. It leaks during transport by pipelines, trucks, ferries and super-tankers. Recent national studies (1) have shown that the leakage is under reported by up to 100%. When there is a major leak, this can lead to significant air pollution, catastrophic explosions and fires. What’s more, methane is a potent greenhouse gas with 86 times the heating impact of carbon dioxide over a 20 year time span. In other words, it is a super pollutant that has enormous short term impacts on our climate.

Gas stoves pollute the air in your home by emitting nitrogen dioxide, an air contaminant, and even when turned off, continuously leak methane. Studies show that children who live in homes with gas stoves have a higher incidence of asthma than children who live in homes with electric stoves. If your child has asthma, your gas stove could be exacerbating their attacks.

BC residents understand only too well the health effects of climate change. During the 2021 heat dome, more than 600 individuals (2) lost their lives between June 25 and July 2.

Extreme weather events are also associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. Other climate change driven events like floods and wildfires increase injuries, death, drownings, displacement and food insecurity.

In its 6th report in August 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlighted that strong, rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions are a must if the world is to have any chance of keeping global heating within 1.5°C.  In 2021, the IPCC, United Nations and International Energy Association all called for an end to all new expansion and development of fossil fuel projects.

For all these reasons, the massive Tilbury LNG expansion in Delta, BC must not be approved. It is a Climate Change bomb we cannot afford to detonate.

(1)  https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/02/24/global-methane-emissions-are-significantly-underreported-iea-says.html
(2) https://bcmj.org/bccdc/extreme-heat-events-are-public-health-emergencies

Signatories Continued

Kai Irani                          Physician or nurse