Activist Claim: Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment launches false advertising complaint against Canadian Gas Association claiming their ad campaign is greenwashing natural gas.
The Facts: Switching to natural gas has already saved hundreds of millions of tonnes of emissions, and, using carbon tech, production can be zero emissions.
The Source:
$10 million complaint flagging advertising by the Canadian Gas Association is filed today with the Competition Bureau by Canadian doctors, nurses and public health advocates
Here are some facts and sources to have a reasonable conversation about Canadian natural gas:
- According to the IEA, over the last decade, gas switching has saved around 500 million tonnes of CO2– an effect equivalent to putting an extra 200 million EVs running on zero-carbon electricity on the road over the same period.
https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-gas-in-todays-energy-transitions - By replacing conventional coal with Canadian natural gas, approximately 40–45% and 26%–32% emissions reductions can be obtainable for Chinese textile and chemical industries, respectively. The highest emissions reduction of approximately 60% was observed when coal is replaced with natural gas for district heating
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652622009210#:~:text=By%20replacing%20conventional%20coal%20with,with%20NG%20for%20district%20heating
- Despite headline-grabbing claims that gas stove use can increase the risk of respiratory issues such as asthma, this independent study found that most studies have been inconclusive for both children and adults and have not found there is an increased risk.
https://thorax.bmj.com/content/57/11/9 - This is the direct quote from the Health Canada Guidelines, which is consistent with independent research, that says modern gas stoves with proper ventilation are safe:
“Data from Canadian indoor air studies indicate that the concentration of NO2 in most electric stove homes will rarely exceed this level and that this concentration is also attainable in gas stove homes when adequate stovetop ventilation is used.”
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/residential-indoor-air-quality-guideline-nitrogen-dioxide.html - The best way to address indoor air quality is to use a proper vent because even switching to electric stoves can increase particulate matter which can affect respiratory health.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/factsheet-cooking-and-indoor-air-quality.html
Stories that get it right
Indigenous ownership in Canadian oil and gas takes huge step
A massive milestone has been reached in the growing trend of Indigenous people taking ownership of Canadian oil and gas projects.
Twenty-three First Nations and Métis communities in northern Alberta are investing $1.1 billion to become part owners of seven Enbridge oil sands pipelines. It’s described as the largest energy-related Indigenous partnership transaction in North America, and the opportunities it creates can’t be overstated, according to Frog Lake First Nation Chief Greg Desjarlais.
