Our climate campaign sparks oil industry uproar.

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Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00

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r1 Our position on the Whistler media debate and who should pay for climate change costs ... r19 DECEMBER 2018 | Donate | Leave a Legacy DONATE Dear Paov,

West Coast has been front and centre in the national media this week. As you may know, our Climate Law in Our Hands campaign has worked to open a conversation around who should pay for the rising costs of climate change. Over the past year, we’ve asked communities to look at the role of 20 international companies (like Chevron, ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco) in contributing to billions of dollars in current and future BC climate costs. We’ve also been supporting local governments to send “Climate Accountability Letters ” to fossil fuel companies asking them to pay a fair share of these costs.

Whistler is just one of 16 BC communities to send a Climate Accountability Letter to 20 international companies. But Whistler also sent a copy to Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL). As a result, industry spin and some inaccurate media coverage have skewed the debate, making it appear that our campaign is unfairly singling out Alberta oil and gas. Even Alberta UCP Leader Jason Kenny has weighed in.

Whistler, as a resort destination, is a convenient target, but those who chose to attack the Whistler Mayor and Council also targeted the other communities that have sent letters to fossil fuel companies asking that international companies recognize their responsibility to pay a share of local climate costs.

Surveys show that Canadians think fossil fuel producers should pay too. We commissioned two surveys to investigate the crux of the debate: What do Canadians think about the responsibility of fossil fuel companies for climate costs and who should pay for these costs? You can read my exploration of these results here.

We regret that the Mayor and Council of Whistler were unfairly targeted for doing what was right for the planet and for their residents, and we firmly stand with them and all other municipalities that have sent these letters to the fossil fuel industry. We invite conversation about this critically important issue and would love to hear your thoughts!

In hope and solidarity,

Andrew Gage, Staff Lawyer
Climate Law in Our Hands
West Coast Environmental Law


P.S. - If you feel strongly about this issue and would like to help counter this unfair and dangerous misinformation campaign, we would really appreciate it. You can:

1. Write to your local government and explain that you support Climate Accountability Letters being written to the 20 largest global fossil fuel companies. If your community has already sent a letter they still need to hear your support.
2. Write to your local paper to indicate your support for Whistler and the other communities and to help correct the impression that Climate Accountability Letters singled out Canadian companies. Reiterate that global fossil fuel companies need to pay their fair share.

Please bcc’ me on any letters you send at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Share Tweet Forward West Coast Environmental Law
200 - 2006 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V6J 2B3 phone: 604.684.7378
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The Legal E-Brief is a publication of West Coast Environmental Law Association