British Columbia’s recently updated CleanBC climate plan has sparked concern among health professionals, who caution that ongoing LNG expansion could undermine its effectiveness. Dr. Melissa Lem, a Vancouver family physician and past-president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, praised the plan’s recommendations to accelerate electrification and align with Indigenous rights. However, she emphasized that these benefits depend on prompt implementation and could be offset by increased LNG production.
Lem highlighted the tangible health risks of climate change in BC, including extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and severe weather events. She questioned the logic of expanding an industry that directly contributes to these threats. The plan’s approach to powering LNG terminals with publicly funded electricity could also drive up BC Hydro bills for families, effectively subsidizing the industry while exposing residents to health and financial burdens.
Calculating the climate costs of BC’s emissions—64.7 million tonnes per year at Ottawa’s rate of $271 per tonne—Lem estimates British Columbians are already facing nearly 18 billion dollars in climate-related damages this year. She argued this far outweighs any potential revenue from gas royalties, underscoring the need for a climate plan that protects both public health and the economy.
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