Nelson hosts forum on LNG, Fracking, Pipelines
By Contributor
British Columbia faces crucial decisions on climate and the environment with the proposed development of new LNG export plants.
Four or more LNG projects have been planned and the sector will be fed by drilling as many as 50,000 more fracked gas wells in the northeast of the province.
In response, three Nelson organizations have organized a public forum to examine the details and impacts of the growing LNG sector.
The Nelson/West Kootenay Chapter of the Council of Canadians, Doctors and Nurses for Planetary Health Kootenay Boundary and the West Kootenay Climate Hub are zooming in speakers from around the province to give citizens here more information on the dramatic impacts of LNG development at a forum at the Nelson United Church from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
“The impact of LNG development on BC’s climate emissions, and land and water use is far larger than most people realize,” says Dave Gregory from the Council of Canadians local chapter.
“All the good work we are doing locally to reduce our emissions will be cancelled out by LNG development,” says Laura Sacks from West Kootenay Climate Hub.
“Fracking and the use of LNG causes huge health problems for individuals and the planet. There is nothing “natural” about LNG – it is methane gas and not only an extremely potent GHG, but the air pollution it causes in our homes is harmful to our health, especially our children’s health,” says Judith Fearing from Doctors and Nurses for Planetary Health Kootenay Boundary.
The forum will open with brief presentations from expert speakers after which they will field questions from the local audience.
- Dr. Ulrike Meyer is a rural physician in Dawson Creek who works full-tilt in operating-room assists, nursing-home care and outpatient clinics in a region beset by the most dramatic increase in fracking operations anywhere in the country. Meyer has been researching fracking health and local environment impacts for years.
- Peter McCartney is the Climate Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee and has been working through grassroots education and strategic research to end fracking in B.C. for 8 years.
- Kiki Wood is the Senior Oil and Gas Campaigner for Stand.earth. Prior to joining Stand.earth she worked as the National Director for the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition – leading delegations to COP21 and COP22; and for Ecojustice – Canada’s largest environmental law charity.
In the second hour, a local panel will take the stage to host a discussion of the big decisions around LNG and Fracking.
The forum is open to everyone with a small donation for costs at the Nelson United Church at 602 Silica Street.
Register to join the event on Zoom at WestKootenayClimateHub.ca
