A catastrophic spill
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- Published on Wednesday, 21 October 2020 07:38
- Written by editor
It’s time to ban this dirty fuel and protect the Arctic
We’re in a race against time to prevent a catastrophic spill of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the Arctic.
As Arctic sea ice thins and shrinks, more and more ships powered by HFO are sailing through this fragile ecosystem. HFO is a bottom of the barrel fossil fuel that is heavy, sticky, and highly toxic. Every ship that passes through increases the risk of an accident or fuel spill. If there’s a spill in the Arctic, HFO can’t be cleaned up. The toxic compounds in this dirty fuel get stuck in the ecosystem and food chain, impacting humans and wildlife for generations.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is about to discuss a ban on HFO – and a strong ban is the only way to prevent a tragic accident with long lasting impacts. Canada has the opportunity to influence the IMO negotiations by coming with a strong position supporting a ban in the Arctic without loopholes or delays, and we need them to do exactly that.
BAN HFO IN THE ARCTICPressure has already been building on the Canadian government because of members like you. Last month I let Transport Minister Garneau know we had reached 27,277 petition signatures showing your support for a strong ban on HFO. That petition is still growing, and we’ll keep the Minister updated as more people add their names.
All the while over a hundred people flooded the government consultation on whether or not to ban HFO in the Arctic. We collectively took that consultation from a small group of less than 10 pro-fossil fuel comments to one with over 100 posts supportive of a ban on HFO!
We know our pressure is working because Canada is supportive of at least a partial ban, and is actively working on this file. But our work isn’t done yet. The 'ban' they support is full of loopholes and delays, ready to be exploited by the shipping industry.
Right now the minister and his staff are preparing their notes and finalising their position going into this November meeting at the IMO. Sending a flood of letters to Minister Garneau’s inbox will keep the Arctic and all of the reasons he needs to take a stronger stance at the top of his mind as he prepares.
I won’t lie to you. We need all hands on deck to win a ban on HFO in the Arctic. But you know what? I’m already so proud of what the Stand.earth community has accomplished in Canada since I came on board. We’ve sounded the warning horn on cruise ship pollution, and have gotten responses from both government and industry. We’re navigating an old boy’s club, but have already pushed the sector into newly charted waters. I know you’re up to the challenge of mobilizing once again to increase pressure on the Canadian Government. The Arctic is counting on us to find a way to protect it from HFO, and stop a catastrophe before it happens.
Our team is fewer than 50 people, but this community is more than 450,000 people strong and growing – and together, we're using our collective power to fight climate change, protect wild spaces, stand with impacted communities, and say no to HFO in the Arctic.
For the oceans,
Anna Barford
Canadian Shipping Campaigner
Stand.earth
Stand.earth challenges corporations, industries, and governments to prioritize the well-being of people, our environment, and our climate by creating long-term, effective solutions. None of this work is possible without your support. DONATE $5 San Francisco office: 548 Market Street, Suite 74196, San Francisco, CA 94104-5401 On traditional Chochenyo and Karkin Ohlone Lands
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