Let’s get greenwashing out of municipal politics

The document argues that fossil fuel sponsorship of political gatherings, specifically the UBCM Convention, constitutes greenwashing and improperly influences municipal decision-making. It links fossil fuel combustion to severe health crises, including 8.1 million annual global deaths from air pollution and extreme weather events in British Columbia such as the 2021 heat dome and historic wildfires. The authors call for a total ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship in BC municipalities, drawing parallels to the historical ban on tobacco industry influence in medicine.

• Fossil fuel air pollution is linked to 8.1 million deaths annually on a global scale, with 1 in 7 premature deaths in Canada attributed to this pollution.
• British Columbia has faced extreme climate-related events, including the 2021 heat dome which caused 619 deaths, and the 2021 atmospheric river and flooding, which cost over $450 million.
• The authors argue that fossil fuel companies use greenwashing—making misleading or false environmental claims—to mislead consumers and gain unfettered access to politicians through sponsorship and advertising.
• The document identifies a conflict in municipal policy, noting that while 29 BC communities are ending fossil gas hookups in new buildings, the city of Vancouver proposed reversing its prohibition on fossil fuel heating in new homes, and FortisBC is lobbying to delay healthy gas policy.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2024). Let’s get greenwashing out of municipal politics. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Concerning-fossil-fuel-sponsorship-in-BC-municipal-politics.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Let’s get greenwashing out of municipal politics. 2024. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Concerning-fossil-fuel-sponsorship-in-BC-municipal-politics.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Let’s get greenwashing out of municipal politics |date=12 September 2024 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Concerning-fossil-fuel-sponsorship-in-BC-municipal-politics.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2024lets, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Let’s get greenwashing out of municipal politics}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Concerning-fossil-fuel-sponsorship-in-BC-municipal-politics.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }