Briefing Note: A Call for a Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing Expansion in BC due to Human Health and Climate Harms

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) call for a moratorium on fracking expansion in British Columbia, citing severe health risks to local populations and the climate impact of methane leakage. They recommend a transition to zero-emissions buildings, the end of fossil fuel subsidies, and a just transition for affected workers and Indigenous communities.

• Hydraulic fracturing in northeast British Columbia's Peace region is linked to various severe health issues for local residents, including increased rates of cancer, lung disease, and negative pregnancy outcomes. Specific documented harms include asthma in adults and children, migraines, sinusitis, and rare diseases such as glioblastoma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
• Environmental and ecological impacts of fracking in BC include the use of over 10 million litres of fresh water per procedure, groundwater contamination, and soil degradation. In the Montney region, 439 earthquakes with magnitudes up to 4.6 were associated with fracking between 2013 and 2019.
• The natural gas industry contributes to global heating through methane leakage, which has 86 times the warming potential of CO2 over a 20-year period. The authors argue that continued subsidies for the LNG industry will make it virtually impossible for BC to meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Briefing Note: A Call for a Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing Expansion in BC due to Human Health and Climate Harms. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Briefing-Note-Moratorium-on-Fracking-in-BC-Final-2021-10-26.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Briefing Note: A Call for a Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing Expansion in BC due to Human Health and Climate Harms. n.d. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Briefing-Note-Moratorium-on-Fracking-in-BC-Final-2021-10-26.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Briefing Note: A Call for a Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing Expansion in BC due to Human Health and Climate Harms |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Briefing-Note-Moratorium-on-Fracking-in-BC-Final-2021-10-26.pdf#new_tab |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironmentndbriefing, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Briefing Note: A Call for a Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing Expansion in BC due to Human Health and Climate Harms}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Briefing-Note-Moratorium-on-Fracking-in-BC-Final-2021-10-26.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }