The Untold Impacts of LNG: Beyond the Climate Debate
Canada Campaigner Andrew Dumbrille talks about his debate with pro-LNG advocate Cody Battershill on the Mike Smyth Show.
By Andrew Dumbrille, Say No to LNG, Canada Campaigner
Recently, I had the chance to participate in a panel discussion on the Mike Smyth Show, engaging in a debate about the use of LNG as a marine fuel in Canada with Cody Battershill, the founder of Canada Action and a pro-LNG advocate.
Other than cringing at the sound of my own slow paced voice as I listened to the recording, I was also left with some reflections.
During the panel discussion, there was a lot to be said about LNG climate impacts. LNG is mainly methane, which has 80 times the climate warming impact of CO2.
Contrary to the claim that LNG offers a 10-20% emissions improvement, the full life-cycle analysis reveals that LNG can emit 70-82% more greenhouse gases than traditional marine diesel fuel. This discussion offered a glimpse into the LNG debate, but it didn’t capture the full extent of the social, community, and public health impacts associated with LNG as a marine fuel.
What I didn’t get a chance to say…
The social and community impacts of LNG are often overlooked. Only by understanding these impacts, we can paint a complete picture of why supporting LNG as a marine fuel jeopardizes the health and well-being of Canadians.
Last month, doctors and nurses in British Columbia launched a campaign and LNG health advisory, highlighting the adverse health, environmental, and community impacts of LNG.
Every year, LNG is associated with over 200,000 premature deaths, 775,000 asthma-related hospital visits, 20 million tons of crops lost, and 73 billion hours of labor lost from extreme heat.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)In Canada, rural and Indigenous communities are significantly impacted by LNG expansion on land. LNG production is linked to contaminated ground water and adverse psychological effects from local noise, vibration, and light pollution.
Violence against Indigenous Peoples also occurs near pipeline construction and fracking sites without ‘free, prior and informed consent’.
By exploring these dimensions, we must recognize that LNG is not just a climate concern and stranded asset but also a matter of social justice and well-being for Canadians.
We urge you to consider the broader implications of supporting LNG as a marine fuel, and join us by signing this petition. We are calling on the B.C. and Canadian governments, BC Ferries, port regulators, and other industries stop investing in LNG ship infrastructure and prioritize clean, renewable energy sources for the maritime sector.
Together, let’s say no to LNG and chart the course for a cleaner and more equitable shipping future.
Further Reading:
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. May 2022. Fracking and Health Impacts: The Lived Experience.
The Narwhal Explainer. October 2022. The Complicated Truth About Pipelines Crossing Wet’suwet’en Territory.
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