Canada Action has consistently shared the good news story about Canadian natural gas and the urgent need for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects on our coastlines. A huge part of our balanced, fact-based and non-partisan message is to look at how advancing these new projects would significantly help Canadians, support economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities, and usher in an overall net reduction in global emissions.
People, planet and prosperity is our motto.
This is, of course, all in the context of global energy demand continuing to grow to new record highs, with LNG consumption expected to increase up to 76% by 2040. If the world doesn’t get this energy from Canada, other less responsible producers will happily fill the void and stand to benefit enormously. At the same time, local families and communities will be left behind, along with the emissions reductions our LNG would have attained.
As we approach the fall of 2023, the positive and fact-based information we bring to the public domain on responsible Canadian LNG has caught the attention of obstructionists, some of whom are now running their own campaigns. We’ve seen some of their messages thus far and are not surprised they are once again resorting to misinformation and alarmist tactics to scare Canadians into believing mistruths about B.C.’s world-class natural gas sector.
With that in mind, this blog reiterates our positive message about how B.C. LNG projects help Canadians, Indigenous communities, global energy security and the environment. Also provided are links to internal and external resources highlighting the incredible benefits of a healthy LNG sector on Canada’s West Coast. Also see:
- Top 3 Myths about LNG in British Columbia
- 3 Pragmatic Questions for Anti-Resource Development Activists
- How to Blow Up a Pipeline Movie Oblivious to Energy Realities of Today
Canada’s Allies Want Our Energy
Our allies want Canadian energy more than ever. South Korea, Japan and Germany have all asked us to provide them with our responsibly produced oil and natural gas as they look to diversify their supply sources away from less reliable trade partners [1][2].
Shouldn’t we be doing everything we can to help? As one of the few major democratic oil and natural gas exporters left in the world, Canada has an inherent responsibility to provide our allies with the energy they need – don’t you agree?
B.C. Premier David Eby recently took a trip to Asia to visit Japan, South Korea and Singapore, where he learned how urgent it was for these countries to begin sourcing more natural resources from reliable trading partners like Canada.
“It’s really apparent in my meetings in Japan and South Korea, that the governments there feel a huge level of urgency around energy security and it’s energy in all forms — LNG, hydrogen. They are very anxious about ensuring that they have uninterrupted supplies of energy as well as critical minerals for meeting their manufacturing operations in these countries,” Eby said, according to the Vancouver Island Free Daily [3].
The B.C. government recently approved the Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG project and has allowed Nisga’a Nation’s Ksi Lisims LNG to enter its environmental review.
Thank you, Premier Eby, for supporting Canadian families and Indigenous communities.
Global buyers want more sustainable and reliable energy supplies. Canada can deliver by providing them with more of our democratically produced energy. Oil, natural gas and hydrogen — all of the above are needed. Also see:
- When allies seek Canadian natural gas, we say ‘sorry’ – that has global consequences
- Will Canada answer the call for LNG? It’s a ‘TBD’, says industry
- The world wants and needs Canada’s energy - especially LNG
Canadian LNG’s Contribution to Net Global Emission Reductions
Indigenous-led LNG projects in British Columbia are set to be some of the lowest emission facilities of their kind worldwide. Meanwhile, growing global LNG demand means that if supply doesn’t come from Canada, it will simply come from elsewhere – likely from producers with weaker emissions regulations and environmental protections.
Let’s look at the emissions profiles of Canadian LNG export facilities:
- Cedar LNG’s GHG emissions intensity is estimated to be 0.08 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) per tonne of LNG produced, among the lowest in the world [4].
- Proponents of Ksi Lisims LNG say the project will have the lowest GHG emissions intensity of any LNG export facility worldwide and will accomplish net-zero operations by 2030 [5].
- Woodfibre LNG has promised to be the first net-zero facility anywhere in the world by 2027, 23 years ahead of government-mandated targets [6].
Analyses from various research groups and organizations also find there are substantial net emissions reductions to be made by substituting Canadian LNG for coal power and heat generation in Asia.
- Wood Mackenzie’s analysis found that switching Canadian LNG for coal in Asia could reduce emissions equivalent to removing 41 million cars from Canada’s roads - more than all the registered cars in Canada [6].
- The Canadian Chamber of Commerce found that if just 20% of Asia’s coal-fired power plants are converted to natural gas, global emissions would drop by more than Canada’s total annual emissions [7].
It is abundantly clear from the facts above that Canadian LNG and climate action go hand-in-hand. Let’s not pretend otherwise, like opponents would have you believe. Also see:
- Canadian LNG to Asia could cut emissions equivalent to removing all the cars off our roads, study says
- The Role of Natural Gas in a Low Carbon Future: REPORT
- Canadian LNG Will Reduce GHG Emissions in China: STUDY
Enormous Economic Benefits of Canadian Oil & Gas
According to LNG opponents, the natural gas industry generates about $2 billion in government revenues yearly, cash they say British Columbians would not have difficulty forgetting about [9]. But $2 billion is about the cost of one new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver – that isn’t a small chunk of change by any means.
In fact, the natural gas and oil sector has generated more than $500 billion in revenues for Canadian governments since 2000, with another $600 billion forecast by 2032.
The idea that British Columbians should sacrifice their prosperity to satisfy the wishes of radical energy obstructionists is absurd – especially considering these opponents have been known to move the goalposts relative to their demands repeatedly.
Where does it stop? No one knows.
We need to have more balanced conversations and acknowledge we can contribute to global emissions reductions while also generating prosperity for our families and future generations.
LNG opponents are far too casual about their suggestions that several thousand workers, eight First Nations and countless B.C. communities should be supported to transition to a sustainable economy based on renewable energy, ecological restoration and other sectors of the sort as we shut down the natural gas sector.
What gives them the right to make these critical decisions for Canadian and Indigenous communities across B.C.?
Compared to the economic impact of a healthy LNG industry, opponents’ plans on how these sustainable initiatives would even come close to the opportunities offered by natural gas are non-existent. For example:
- Coastal GasLink, a major supply pipeline for B.C. LNG projects, has awarded more than $1.7 billion in contracting opportunities to Indigenous and local communities [10].
- LNG Canada, now under construction, had spent a cumulative $3.6 billion on contracts and subcontracts to local, Indigenous and other businesses as of early 2022, including $2.9 billion to Indigenous-owned and local companies [11].
- A thriving B.C. LNG sector could create more than $500 billion in new investment and nearly 100,000 jobs across Canada while providing annual tax and royalty payments of approximately $2 billion [12] – B.C. would see most of these benefits.
To walk away from these opportunities by “phasing out the B.C. natural gas industry” isn’t rational nor realistic, given that global LNG is projected to grow through 2040 to new record highs. Also see:
- Exporting LNG is a massive economic opportunity - so why are we missing out?
- LNG - Canada has the supply to meet global demand
- LNG is a hat-trick for Canada
Canadian LNG is a Win-Win-Win
We all want reliable, sustainable, affordable energy for Canadians, First Nations and our allies, and to support good jobs for our communities. Let’s work together to advance our economy, global energy security and the environment while making the world a better place.
Join us on social media today to learn why the world needs more sustainably produced Canadian-made LNG and the benefits that would come with.
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) July 10, 2023
SOURCES:
1 – Business in Vancouver – Korea, Japan want Canadian LNG – can Canada deliver? – Date Accessed: March 2023 (https://biv.com/article/2023/02/korea-japan-want-canadian-lng-can-canada-deliver)
2 - Reuters – Germany touts possible ‘major role’ for Canadian LNG in shift away from Russia – Date Accessed: March 2023 (https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/canadian-lng-could-play-major-role-germanys-shift-russian-gas-scholz-2022-08-23/)
3 - Vancouver Island Free Daily. (2023, June). Premier David Eby brings home promises of economic opportunity from Asia trip. Retrieved from https://www.vancouverislandfreedaily.com/news/premier-david-eby-brings-home-promises-of-economic-opportunity-from-asia-trip/ Accessed: July 2023.
4 - Environmental Assessment Office. (2023). Reasons for Ministers Decision - Cedar LNG - 20230313. Retrieved from https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/640fadb57a7e5a0022139e32/download/Reasons%20for%20Ministers%20Decision%20-%20Cedar%20LNG%20-%20230313.pdf Accessed: July 2023.
5 - Energy Now. (2023, June). Pressure mounts on government to speed up process for Ksi Lisims LNG. Retrieved from https://energynow.ca/2023/06/pressure-mounts-on-government-to-speed-up-process-for-ksi-lisims-lng/ Accessed: July 2023.
6 - Woodfibre LNG. (2023). Woodfibre LNG accelerates Canada's pathway to net-zero. Retrieved from https://woodfibrelng.ca/woodfibre-lng-accelerates-canadas-pathway-to-net-zero/ Accessed: July 2023.
7 - Globe News Wire. (Year n.d.). Retrieved from https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/ee16cfdf-f24e-4ee6-9472-dacf0c018227 Accessed: July 2023.
8 - Canadian Chamber of Commerce. (2023, March). Canada and Global Energy Security. Retrieved from https://chamber.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Canada_and_Global_Energy_Security_March_2023.pdf Accessed: July 2023.
9 - BC Climate Emergency. (n.d.). Fracking and LNG. Retrieved from https://bcclimateemergency.ca/fracking-and-lng Accessed: July 2023.
10 - Coastal GasLink. (n.d.). Indigenous Relations. Retrieved from https://www.coastalgaslink.com/sustainability/indigenous-relations/ Accessed: July 2023.
11 - LNG Canada. (2022). Project Overview. Retrieved from https://www.lngcanada.ca/uploads/subpages/downloads/323592-03-LNG-Project-Overview-Update-2022-V9-LoRes-Pages-2.pdf Accessed: July 2023.
12 - CAPP.(n.d.). Natural gas and the LNG opportunity in British Columbia. Retrieved from https://www.capp.ca/explore/natural-gas-and-the-lng-opportunity-in-british-columbia/ Accessed: July 2023.