VANCOUVER – Port Metro Vancouver’s approval today of the Fraser Surrey Docks Coal Terminal proposal is a serious mistake from a climate and health perspective.

“Today's announcement by Port Metro Vancouver confirms something we have long suspected—we have a rogue Port on our hands,” said Wilderness Committee Climate Campaigner Eoin Madden. “To ignore your neighbour's legitimate concerns about the threat this project represents to their climate and their personal health is disrespectful.”

Although the Port has been quoted as saying they found “no unacceptable risks”, many experts disagree. The two year review process heard considerable health and environmental concerns. The environmental impact statement has been heavily criticized by Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Valley health authorities. The impact of greenhouse gas emissions that burning coal creates has been ignored.

“This decision by the Port will lead to 17 million tonnes of climate changing gases every year. How can they say that this is an acceptable risk to our youth? That's more than a quarter of all the climate change the entire province is currently creating,” said Madden. “The Port has failed us.”

This project still requires an air permit from Metro Vancouver, and an ongoing legal dispute between this municipality and Fraser Surrey Docks raises legitimate questions as to whether that they will get one.