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A group of North Coast First Nations believes it’s possible to export B.C. liquefied natural gas while meeting Canada’s climate-change goals — with “the cleanest-and-greenest” possible LNG projects.

“I think there is a balance that can be reached, if we work together, where we can have the cleanest, greenest projects go ahead, at the same time addressing some of those (social) problems that we face,” said John Helin, mayor of the Lax Kw’alaams band, based near Prince Rupert.

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The Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla, Nisga’a and Haisla First Nations signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday under the name of the Northwest Coast First Nations Collaborative Climate Initiative.

Helin said the effort will work toward a “shared vision” with the provincial and federal governments to displace coal-fired electrical power generation elsewhere in the world with LNG produced in B.C.

That, however, is contingent upon countries finalizing implementation of an article of the Paris Agreement on climate to allow countries that cut emissions by displacing coal to share their emission credits with the countries that produced the natural gas.