Health Advisory — LNG and Fracking in British Columbia

A health advisory letter from a group of doctors and nurses to the government of British Columbia, warning of the public health risks associated with the expansion of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry and hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

• The LNG industry accelerates climate change through methane releases across the supply chain, with methane possessing more than 80 times the warming potential of CO2 over a 20-year period. The authors argue that methane leakage and emissions from burning LNG make it no more effective than coal in addressing the climate crisis, and they dispute the industry claim that LNG serves as a "transition fuel."
• Fracking and natural gas combustion release air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. These pollutants are linked to premature death, cardiovascular disease, bronchitis, childhood asthma, and various cancers. The document notes that indoor air pollution risks are the same for both renewable natural gas (RNG) and fossil gas.
• Hydraulic fracturing poses significant risks to water security, with a single well potentially consuming over 10,000,000 litres of clean water, most of which is permanently removed from the water cycle. Contamination via underground migration or surface spills can lead to reproductive disorders, endocrine disruption, and gastrointestinal problems.
• Communities near fracking sites face adverse physical and mental health impacts, including respiratory disease, childhood leukaemia, and neurological and developmental disorders in children. Additionally, these areas experience increased rates of low birth weights and preterm births, alongside quality-of-life issues caused by light, noise, and vibration pollution and truck traffic.
• The expansion of gas development and pipelines without free, prior, and informed consent is described as a violation of human rights, specifically regarding threats to traditional practices and violence against Indigenous peoples.
• The authors call on the BC government to implement four specific actions: a moratorium on new fracking until an independent health impact assessment is conducted; stricter air and water pollution regulations; a ban on natural gas tie-ins (including RNG) for all buildings by the end of 2023; and financial support for workers and Indigenous communities to transition to a clean-energy economy.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Health Advisory — LNG and Fracking in British Columbia. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LNG-Health-Advisory-Letter.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Health Advisory — LNG and Fracking in British Columbia. n.d. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LNG-Health-Advisory-Letter.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Health Advisory — LNG and Fracking in British Columbia |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LNG-Health-Advisory-Letter.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironmentndhealth, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Health Advisory — LNG and Fracking in British Columbia}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LNG-Health-Advisory-Letter.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }