Tilbury Jetty approval threatens marine pollution and climate change

VANCOUVER, BC (Unceded Coast Salish Territories) — Earlier today, the B.C. Government announced the approval of a new LNG tanker and ship fueling industrial project, known as the Tilbury Marine Jetty. This project is a direct threat to local communities, the climate, and the fragile biodiversity of the Fraser river, and it guarantees more fracking on the territories of the Treaty 8 First Nations. 

“The news of the approval of the Tilbury LNG jetty is disappointing and unsurprising given the millions the fossil fuel industry lobbying machine has spent on convincing Canadians that LNG is a ‘clean’ energy, when the science tells us it is anything but,” said Kiki Wood, Senior Oil and Gas Campaigner for Stand.earth. “Tilbury’s tanker dock will hurt the delicate ecosystem of the Fraser river, and harm local communities with additional air pollution and unnecessary risks. When operational, it will undermine Canada’s commitment to phase out fossil fuels, and lock Canada into a toxic relationship with the very pollutants that are exacerbating wildfires and droughts that ravage our province. What we need to see happen now is to act without delay, because when it comes to the transition to renewable energy, later is too late.“

The Tilbury LNG expansion could add as much pollution to B.C.’s air annually as the entire city of Vancouver, and would require drilling thousands of new fracking wells in order to supply it with fracked gas. The cities of Richmond, Vancouver, New Westminster, and Burnaby all passed motions opposing the Tilbury LNG expansion project, citing significant environmental, climate and livelihood concerns. 

“Planning to use LNG as a marine fuel is planning to fail the world,” said Anna Barford, Canada Shipping Campaigner for Stand.earth. “As the shipping sector grapples with its enormous pollution problem, fracked gas (LNG) will only significantly delay the needed transition to renewable energy. LNG ship engines emit at least 70 to 82 per cent more life-cycle greenhouse gas pollution compared to cleaner distillate fuels. Building a ship refueling and export terminal at the Tilbury LNG site will lock in highly polluting fossil fuels for decades to come.”

The latest IPCC report was clear that world leaders must move beyond fossil fuel production in order to keep temperatures from rising above the dangerous threshold of 1.5°C. By approving this new LNG tanker and ship fueling industrial project, the B.C. government is acting in contradiction to the world’s most authoritative scientific voice on the climate crisis. 

Stand.earth is calling on the provincial government to truly commit to an energy transition that moves away from fossil fuel projects and invests in real climate solutions.

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Media Contacts:

KiKi Wood, Senior Oil and Gas Campaigner, kiki@stand.earth

Anna Barford, Canada Shipping Campaigner, anna@stand.earth