Submission to the CleanBC Independent Review Panel

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted a commentary to the CleanBC independent review panel arguing that British Columbia's current climate strategy is insufficient to meet its legislated targets and fails to address public health risks associated with fossil fuel reliance. The document calls for an immediate moratorium on new fracking and LNG development, the elimination of gas connections in new buildings, and a shift toward sustainable transportation and zero-carbon construction to protect public health and achieve environmental justice.

• British Columbia is not on track to meet its 2025 and 2030 emissions targets. Projections indicate emissions this year will be only 2.6% below 2007 levels, missing the 16% reduction target, and will be 20% below 2007 levels by 2030, which is half of the 40% reduction target.
• The expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fracked gas is viewed as incompatible with climate goals. Specifically, the $48.3-billion LNG Canada project is expected to increase B.C.'s emissions by approximately 4 million tonnes of CO2 annually, with an additional 36 million tonnes produced when the gas is burned abroad.
• Fracking and LNG development have caused significant health and workforce impacts in northeastern B.C. At least seven doctors have left Dawson Creek, representing nearly 40% of the local physician workforce, citing the impacts of the LNG industry as a primary reason.
• Indoor air pollution from gas stoves is a critical omission in CleanBC. Children in homes with gas stoves face a 42% higher risk of asthma, and the document notes that 10,000 new B.C. homes connect to gas every year.
• Transportation is the largest source of B.C.'s GHG emissions at 42%, with an 18% increase since 2007. Proposed cuts to public transit—up to 50% for bus and 30% for rail services—could cost Metro Vancouver's economy $1 billion annually and add 300 million vehicle kilometers traveled.
• The document recommends accelerating the Zero Carbon Step Code so that all new buildings meet Emissions Level 3 by mid-2026 and Level 4 (zero carbon) by 2028. Accelerated adoption in Metro Vancouver and the Capital Regional District could prevent 1.5 million tonnes of carbon pollution by 2030.
• The CleanBC Roadmap is criticized for over-relying on industry self-regulation and voluntary commitments. The gas industry is accused of under-reporting emissions by using estimates based on optimal operating conditions and excluding non-routine events.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2025). Submission to the CleanBC Independent Review Panel. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025_CAPE_Submission_CleanBC_Review.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Submission to the CleanBC Independent Review Panel. 2025. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025_CAPE_Submission_CleanBC_Review.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Submission to the CleanBC Independent Review Panel |date=18 July 2025 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025_CAPE_Submission_CleanBC_Review.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2025submission, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Submission to the CleanBC Independent Review Panel}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025_CAPE_Submission_CleanBC_Review.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }