No more fossil gas projects in Canada

FAQ

• Isn’t so-called natural gas a “bridge fuel” to clean energy?

  Natural gas is a fossil fuel with significantly underestimated climate impacts, due in large part to methane leaks throughout its production, transportation and distribution.

  Fossil gas (also known as natural gas) is largely made up of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time horizon.

  Fossil gas expansion stands in the way of a clean energy future. It’s not a bridge technology.

  The economic opportunities from renewable energy are much larger than those from fossil fuels.
  

• What fossil gas export projects were recently being proposed in Eastern Canada?

  Several projects were back in the news recently, two of which (Pieridae Energy’s Goldboro LNG project and Repsol’s Saint John LNG project) could drive up the volume of gas passing through the Gazoduc TQM pipeline that crosses southern Quebec.

  • A previous version of Pieridae Energy’s Goldboro project would have added 3,7 megatonnes of GHG emissions a year, the same as burning 1.8 million tonnes of coal, causing Nova Scotia to go over its carbon limit by one third.

  • Repsol's project is estimated to generate at least 1.2 megatonnes of GHG emissions a year – equivalent to burning at least 816,000 tonnes of coal, which would make it impossible for New Brunswick to meet its climate target.

  • Neither figure includes emissions generated when the gas is burned – where the vast majority of emissions are generated.

  Other fossil gas export projects are currently being considered in Western Canada as well.

  There is also talk of reviving the GNL Québec project, despite the project’s rejection by the Quebec and Canadian governments.
  

  Exporting fossil gas to countries other than the United States requires the construction of gas liquefaction terminals to ship the gas. That’s why it’s called liquefied natural gas or LNG or GNL in French.

• Is it true that gas can help us transition to hydrogen?

  Be skeptical of any claims that a new LNG export facility will be converted to hydrogen.

  An LNG terminal can only be retrofitted at extremely high costs due to the different cooling temperatures. The temperature for hydrogen is minus 252 degrees — far colder than the temperature requirement for LNG of minus 168 degrees. The insulation requirements are completely different. If Canada wants to export hydrogen, it should build a green hydrogen terminal from the start. Otherwise, this is either greenwashing or a very expensive bill coming to Canadians down the line.
  

• What are the environmental and social risks of fossil gas projects?

  LNG is neither clean nor ethical.

  To learn more about the four issues listed below, visit the StopTheGas website.

  • Gas extraction and export projects increase the risk of violence against Indigenous communities, particularly women. This documented phenomenon is already occurring in Canada.

  • Gas is a high GHG-emitting fossil fuel that is moving us away from our climate objectives.

  • Fracked gas poses huge risks for our environment.

  • Exporting LNG would lead to increases in super-tanker traffic in sensitive Atlantic waters. Increased tanker traffic risks impacting whale habitat and other marine life.