Climate change warning labels on gas pumps a hard sell in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – Both Kamloops city council and the Regional District Thompson-Nicola board have said no to climate change warning labels on gas pumps.

The group Our Horizon has been travelling the province trying to get local politicians to agree to sticking the labels on gas pumps.

Matt Husle with the group made recent pitches to both Kamloops city counsellors and the directors on the regional district board.

Hulse admits there are different hurdles to overcome in the Interior than what his organization faces on the coast.

“In Interior B.C. public transit is not readily available,” he says. Hulse understands if there aren’t alternatives in place people have few options outside of driving their cars.

He says pickup trucks are often needed for specific work in the Thompson region as opposed to the lower mainland, but argues many of these vehicles are "pure fashion."

“There is a cultural sense people need these trucks,” he says.

Hulse says the idea behind the warning labels is similar to those on tobacco packages. Attitudes towards smoking slowly changed because people became more aware.

Our Horizon has made progress in cities across the province. Recently, North Vancouver committed to putting the climate change warning labels on all gas pumps in its municipality.

“People might think, ‘don't make me feel guilty,'” he says. He wants residents in the interior to be frustrated over their lack of alternative transportation options.

“However, anyone driving a Hummer in downtown Vancouver — I want them to feel as guilty as hell.”

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