Support strong Canadian climate journalism for 2025
A news story previously published at this url did not meet the editorial standards of Canada’s National Observer and has been retracted. It was based on a misunderstanding of the role of the First Nation Climate Initiative (FNCI).
The FNCI does not develop liquid natural gas (LNG) projects. It is an Indigenous-led collaborative forum committed to fighting climate change, alleviating First Nations’ poverty, restoring ecosystems in First Nations’ traditional territories, and enabling Indigenous peoples to be leading actors in the decarbonized economy. Some of the projects it promotes, such as ammonia and hydrogen production, rely on LNG, and some of its member nations are involved in LNG projects.
We regret the error and apologize to FNCI for the mistake.
Comments
I say the following being a 5th gen descendant of early white settlers to southwest BC.
We're in need of a new term, if it does not yet exist, that adapts 'greenwash' to ecologically destructive 'indigenous' enterprise.
The evident thinking, sometimes proposed by apparently non-indigenous individuals hired to lead and promote such efforts, seems to be that a combination of settler sentiments of guilt and romanticism will give social licence to extraction development that would otherwise draw significant criticism.
I'm all for reconciliation and returning power to the first nations of this land -- and if the earth mother will be destroyed in any event, why should first nations not share in the short-term rewards? -- but let's, all of us, please view these efforts with objective and open eyes, perhaps even trying to evaluate such projects through the eyes of all the creatures that are central to indigenous culture, mythology and ways of knowing.
When making a personal evaluation of these projects -- some first nations also want to buy TMX? Really? -- let's set aside everything besides the objective costs and benefits, and what will prolong the existence of the biosphere, as we know it.
Re the caption to the head photo:
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Re the caption to the header photo:
"Marking a historic moment as H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, COP28 President, UAE, handed over the presidency to H.E. Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President, Azerbaijan."
Um... what, precisely, is 'historic' about this photo? Perhaps the caption was whittled down from an original that read:
"Marking a historically stupid passing of the torch, from one petrostate to another"?
I'd suggest to CNO that to lessen rampant cynicism, it ought not publish that which feeds it.
The year 2025 is about to dawn. I'd love to climb into a time machine set for December 2034 to see what the close of the next decade would have brought to the fossil fuel industry, and thus to all its investors.
But the lessons learned might be too disruptive, perhaps even too tragic to fully handle such foreknowkedge. I certainly hope those who have seen the current trends in renewables and are issuing cautionary statements about plunging into LNG are given some due consideration. Evidence is on their side.
Well, so, First Nations folks can be morons too, just like the rest of us.