Climate: Vancouver could back down on its natural gas restriction

Will Vancouver once again authorize the right to heat with natural gas in new buildings? The city council is expected to decide this week on the issue, which has sparked strong opposition.

In 2022, Vancouver became one of the first cities in Canada to ban natural gas for heating purposes in new residential buildings. This measure served as an example to other municipalities, which have since followed suit.

However, in June, councilors surprised by voting 6-5 in favor of changes to these rules. They also ordered a report from municipal officials (New window) (in English) on the return of this fossil energy in new constructions.

I don't understand the logic. […] This doesn't make sense, it's the opposite of progresscomments Besty Agar, director of the buildings program at the Pembina Institute.

New construction is the easiest time to make the right decisions to choose an electric heating system. It doesn't make sense to delay it and go back on it, because it's just going to cost us more in the future.

Affordability, but for whom?

When city councilor Brian Montague introduced this motion in June, the economic argument and the housing crisis were brought to the forefront.

However, the municipal agents' report indicates thatAllowing natural gas for space and water heating provides more options for applicants, but is not expected to improve affordability or speed up building approvals, compared to a low-carbon option.

The results of the report were presented to the city council on Tuesday.

The council should decide on Thursday whether or not it will maintain the return of natural gas heating to these new homes. Until then, 142 people must testify before the city council on the issue, including disgruntled citizens.

We talk about affordability, but for whom? asks Besty Agar for her part. These heating systems cannot be used to cool spaces, unlike heat pumps, she points out.

They will also have to be modernized in the future to meet carbon neutral obligations, and it is the owners who will have to foot the bill, says Besty Agar.

Nearly 60% of the city of Vancouver's carbon pollution comes from its buildings, mainly from the use of natural gas for water and room heating, the City points out.

Doctors call for a step back

In an open letter this week, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, which represents some 150 health professionals, also urged city council to keep its previous bans on natural gas.

They ask the Municipality to protect the health of the public and not to be fooled by misinformation about the affordability of natural gas.

Depend on this fossil resource is not only outdated, it is also a dangerous approachthey write, citing the consequences of these pollutants on air quality, asthma rates and cancer risks, without even counting its impacts on the climate.

It is time for Vancouver to act responsibly, restore its climate leadership in Canada and protect public health.

Disguised lobbying?

Sunil Singal, campaign manager at Stand.earth, denounces the emergence of pro-fossil energy lobby groups in British Columbia, which are inserting themselves into municipal council discussions to slow down the energy transition and cast doubt on local governments. .

This is worrying because they are not showing their true intentions, which are to continue to create profit for fossil mining companies. Yet we are talking about people's health. We know that it is bad for our health and that we are in an affordability crisis.

Using electricity for heating and cooling is much more efficient. We are in an affordability crisis and we are looking to reintroduce gas, which will increase residents' bills. This is insane.

If this measure goes ahead, Vancouver would in any case maintain its leading status for Sunil Singal. It would become the first city in Canada to voluntarily reintroduce a polluting gas into homes.