The Quiet Sob of the Sea to Sky Melting Glaciers
As we grapple with the increasingly stark realities of climate change, the numbers often feel abstract, distant, belonging to boardrooms and policy papers. And there are those times when the numbers hit home with a deep sense of loss for the rivers we cherish. Let’s look at two such numbers from our own backyard in Squamish and then consider what they mean for the breathtaking landscapes that define us.
The proposed Woodfibre LNG plant in Squamish, while touted as one of the cleanest LNG facilities, is designed to export natural gas that, when burned by end-users, will release an estimated 8 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
How big is that? Let’s compare with the collective footprint of our nearest urban centre. The City of Vancouver, a vibrant hub home to roughly 700,000 residents, generates a direct CO2 output that feels very real. If we consider the average total emissions per Canadian (14.91 tonnes/person/year), Vancouver’s population collectively emits approximately 10.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
Think about that for a moment. A single industrial plant is projected to contribute emissions equivalent to over 75% of the entire City of Vancouver’s total annual CO2 output. This is where the abstract numbers become painfully real.
I look at those figures and then I look to our mountains. When I lace up my boots for iconic hikes like the Joffre Lakes trail, or trek through Garibaldi Provincial Park, I expect to be greeted by the ancient, pristine beauty of glaciers. But increasingly, I’m not the only one to find less and less.
The evidence is all around us: the shrinking tongues of ice, the expanding glacial lakes, the moraines left stark and exposed. Our beloved BC glaciers, these magnificent natural cathedrals of ice and rock, are melting at an alarming, accelerating rate. They are not just picturesque backdrops; they are vital freshwater reservoirs, critical ecosystems, and powerful symbols of our wild heritage. Their meltwater provides the cold, life-sustaining flows essential for BC’s wild salmon; without this steady source, the rivers become too warm and low for their survival.
There’s a profound sadness that washes over you when you stand on a naked ridge where a glacier should be, only to see bare rock and a pool of milky water. It’s a silence broken only by the drip, drip, drip of melting ice – a sound that, in this context, feels less like nature sobbing.
Knowing that we are adding millions more tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere, even as we witness the literal erosion of our natural wonders, makes that sadness heavier. It’s a reminder that every tonne counts, every decision has an impact, and the beauty and biological viability we often take for granted might one day only exist in old Instagram feeds and memories.
The Delta of Decision
The question for us, as British Columbians and global citizens, isn’t just about economic development. It’s about legacy. We stand now at the mouth of critical decision, much like standing at a river delta . The water and our future flow in a single powerful current, but at the end, it splits into countless channels, each path carved by the actions and choices we make today.
Do we choose the channel that directs more carbon into the atmosphere, leading us toward warmer sterile shallower streams? Or do we collectively steer toward the channels of sustainability and preservation, keeping our glaciers and the the cold deep currents that nurture our salmon?
The future might look bleak, but it has not been written yet and we can still decide where we want to take it. If you are upset enough to take action, you can sign the petition and share your thoughts with at least one elected official.
Sources and Estimates
Woodfibre LNG Emissions
Woodfibre LNG Emissions are widely cited at 8 Mt CO2 per year for the life-cycle (“Scope 3” or downstream combustion) emission estimate. The full lifecycle analysis for the project, including upstream gas production, liquefaction, and combustion by end-users, has been estimated at 10.9 Mt CO2e/year.
Vancouver Population
Vancouver Population is approximated at 700,000 residents based on current growth trends from the last official census (2021) and subsequent estimates for the City of Vancouver proper.
Canadian Emissions Per Capita
Canadian Emissions Per Capita are 14.91 tonnes/person/year. This figure is a calculated measure of Canada’s total annual CO2 emissions divided by its population, rounded from figures like 14.99 t/capita (2022).