Not many people know exactly what their pension is invested in. For example, 11 British Columbia public sector pensions have $8 billion in fossil fuels.
Managed by crown corporation or BCI, it was quite disturbing to learn the teachers’ pension portion of that is .
This would include Pacific Oil and Gas the company behind , who plan to build a pipeline through 撸奶社区and under the 撸奶社区River In fact, the BC Energy Regulator—which seems like just an extension of fossil fuel companies—has issued a permit for Woodfibre LNG to release more than 1,200 litres of into our environmentally recovered Howe Sound. B.C. teachers are financing this project through our pension investments with Pacific Oil and Gas partners Kunlun Energy, PetroChina and Fortis.
This year marked the hottest in , and while scientists at are telling governments to transition quickly to renewables with a developments, the B.C. government and industry continue pushing new LNG projects around the province and our pension investors continue investing in them.
Educators rightfully teach about Reconciliation, and residential schools and celebrate Orange Shirt Day, but, it’s clear by the our oil and gas investments perpetuate ongoing people through land theft and . But then BCI has no Indigenous Rights policy.
Thirty thousand fracking wells mutilate the boreal forest of B.C. accounting for 20% of climate pollution in this province. With a L our pension is financing five oil companies currently ; Petrobras, Tourmaline, Chevron, ARC Resources and Canadian Natural Resources. Fracking uses millions of litresbof fresh water, leaving . Even the fossil fuel industry is being of the water shortage.
The oil and gas sector is in , so is good for the planet, our investment security and a liveable Earth. In the words of Riley Hill, written in the BCTF Teacher Magazine on Feb. 24, 2022, —actually, it's long overdue.
Our students creating a world that is safe in every way; a just, equitable place wild with Nature, sweet air to breathe, thriving clear oceans and lush forests—homes for all the animals, including us.
Kim Benson
Squamish
