LNG in British Columbia
LNG is an opportunity for all Canadians
This February, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced global emissions were flat in 2019, even as the world’s economy grew by almost three per cent- and coal to natural gas switching played a role.According to the IEA, it took a variety of carbon-reducing measures; renewables, nuclear power and large scale switching from coal to natural gas. This achievement led the IEA’s Chief, Fatih Birol, to say he is hopeful 2019 marks a year where we saw a peak in emissions and will now begin to see a decline.
But we still need to see emissions fall much, much more and use all available energy solutions and technologies to meet the targets of the Paris climate agreements and keep the earth’s temperature from rising. The IEA’s report also cautions that while emissions are dropping at record levels in developed countries, a whopping 80 per cent of the growth in emissions is coming from growing coal use in Asia.
This is where Canada needs to step in. Asia will be the main market for LNG produced in British Columbia. Most importantly, LNG from B.C. will have the lowest emissions of LNG produced anywhere in the world thanks to our strong regulations, our innovation, and our clean hydro-electric power in British Columbia.
Building an LNG industry in B.C. is more than supplying a commodity overseas. The LNG industry is also a step towards reconciliation with First Nations.
First Nations have been included in the development of an LNG industry in B.C. from the very beginning. As the LNG industry in B.C. was emerging just over a decade ago, consultation with First Nations was the expectation, not an afterthought. Since then, there have been thousands of hours of consultation, engagement, discussion and time spent between Nations and businesses. There has been dialogue. Relationships have been built between industry and First Nations.
First Nations bands that have signed agreements to participate in LNG projects have taken years, and in some cases, over a decade to make these decisions. They have investigated, they have probed, they have toured facilities and have done the difficult work in determining if LNG projects would result in tangible benefits. They have dictated terms of the agreements they have signed.
These First Nations bands have said that they are tired of managing poverty. They say they have chosen an opportunity that provides a path forward for their members, and most importantly, their youth.
Canada- we have an opportunity before us.
We have an opportunity to continue to play a leadership role in playing an outsized role in providing solutions to the world’s challenges, which currently is reducing emissions, globally, as quickly as possible. Canada’s lowest emission LNG that will come from the LNG Canada project and Coastal GasLink pipeline, will further accelerate the benefits of coal to natural gas switching that the IEA’s data is clearly showing as one of the tools that are driving down global emissions, and putting us on a path to a lower-carbon future.
We can provide the global solution of the world’s lowest emission LNG and a local opportunity which is one tool First Nations have chosen to address chronic poverty and inequality, which will help unlock opportunities for prosperity for all Canadians.
Canada can and will continue to provide our tools and expertise that have demonstrated tangible results alongside the efforts of other countries.
We can play an outsized role in helping to reduce global emissions by providing our lowest emission LNG to parts of the world that are struggling with high emissions and deadly poor air quality. In doing so, we will be able to realize the benefits for all Canadians. It’s time to come together and work alongside each other to achieve true reconciliation, combat global climate change and acknowledge Canada’s global potential.
QUICK FACTS
- LNG (liquefied natural gas) is natural gas chilled to -162° Celsius, the point at which natural gas condenses to a liquid. The cooling process takes place in an LNG facility, similar to a large refrigerator.
- LNG is non-explosive, non-toxic, non-corrosive and does not mix with water or soil. In case of a release, it becomes a natural gas again and mixes into the atmosphere and does not require clean up.
- In a liquefied state, LNG takes up about 1/600th of the space of natural gas in its vapour state, making it more efficient to transport in specially designed carriers to overseas markets.
- Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fuel that produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other hydrocarbons.
- LNG is the same natural gas used throughout Canada to heat our homes, schools and businesses; cook our food; and, increasingly, fuel trucks, buses and ships.
- Customers who buy LNG will use it for these same purposes. They will also use it to displace coal when generating electricity which leads to lower global greenhouse gas emissions.
