This month the Trudeau government will decide whether to approve the Teck Frontier Mine in Alberta. While humanity faces a climate emergency, the proposed mine would be the largest ever expansion in the oil sands, twice the size of the city of Vancouver, and operate for the next 41 years, long past the period when we must transition to a low carbon economy.
The regulators themselves agreed the mine will have “significant adverse effects” on the land and culture of Indigenous people and will threaten endangered bison and whooping crane populations in the Woods Buffalo National Park. Even the mine owners doubt its economic viability.
Bitumen production from the mine alone would produce 6 megatonnes of carbon annually making it impossible for Alberta and Canada to meet net zero emissions by 2050 - our commitments to the Paris Agreement. However emissions from bitumen production represent only one fifth of the total emissions that would result from burning the derived oil. The future carbon emissions from currently operating global wells and mines already exceed a 1.5°C increase, the limit scientists say is necessary to prevent a climate disaster. To keep within this limit we must reduce existing production over the next 10 years. Expanding fossil fuel production such as the Teck mine is incompatible with a liveable climate future. It is morally bankrupt and utterly reprehensible.
The oil and gas industry is touted as a source of jobs. However, the clean economy already produces more jobs than the fossil fuel or mining industry. Here is where we need massive government and social investment. That is why so many organizations and individuals support a made-in-Canada Green New Deal that calls for science based emissions reductions, a just transition to a low carbon economy including protection for Indigenous communities and front line workers and measures that address our many social problems like income inequality.
Lloyd, you have invited Guelph residents to participate in a Climate Action town hall on Thursday, February 13 at Harcourt Memorial United Church (87 Dean Ave) from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. In the last election, two thirds of Canadians voted for meaningful climate action and your government promised to deliver it. We expect you to keep those promises.
Signed: Brian Ostrow, Meghan Lewis, Donna Jennison and 48 other supporters of Fridays for Future Guelph and Guelph Green New Deal
