Indigenous rights The Coastal GasLink pipeline currently under construction will run through the lands of the Wet'suwet'en nation. In violation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Coastal GasLink did not receive free, prior and informed consent for the construction of the pipeline from the lands' title holders.

In the 1997 case Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, Canadian courts recognised that the hereditary chiefs are the title holders over the Wet'suwet'en nation's traditional lands, and thus have the authority and jurisdiction to make decisions about the lands. However, in order to get consent, the federal and national governments ignored the hereditary chiefs. Instead they went to the band councils who, according to the Delgamuukw case, do not have authority off-reserve.

For years already, the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en nation are opposed to the Coastal GasLink pipeline and all other pipelines. When Coastal GasLink moved onto their lands, the hereditary chiefs asked them to leave. In response, Coastal GasLink obtained a court injunction to forcefully remove hereditary chiefs, Wet’suwet’en land defenders, and supporters from their own land.

In February 2020, following widespread solidary protests, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was drafted by the Wet'suwet'en, provincial and federal governments. While the MoU recognises the authority of the hereditary chiefs, it does not address or resolve the dispute over the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

Environmental Assessment Certificate In February 2020, the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en nation filed an application to the British Columbia (B.C.) Supreme Court, requesting a judicial review of the decision made by the Environmental Assessment Office (provincial agency that assesses major development proposals in British Columbia) to grant an extension to the Environmental Assessment Certificate for the Coastal GasLink pipeline. The chiefs argue that the extension, which was granted in October 2019, should not have been granted based on Coastal GasLink's non-compliance with the conditions of its permits (read more under 'environmental issues') as well as the findings of Canada's National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Women (read more under 'gender aspects').

Covid-19 While British Columbia extended its state of emergency, pipeline construction is allowed to continue as it is classified as an essential service by the provincial government. It is reported that even though there are less workers on-site, the workers remain in close proximity. The situation has caused fears of an outbreak. An article published on Ricochet explains how some Indigenous people are reminded of "the darkest episodes of North America’s violent colonial legacy, including the 1837–38 smallpox epidemic caused by infected blankets that white settlers gave to unsuspecting Native Americans.'' Makwala Smith, a protestor against the relevant legislation said: ''If our isolated communities start getting infected by the virus because of the coming and going of police and CGL workers, this would mean the continuation of the cultural genocide brought upon by racist attitudes and decades of colonialist policies that have been imposed on our people.''

Violations of environmental conditions According to the hereditary chiefs, Coastal GasLink does not comply with the conditions set out in the initial Environmental Assessment Certificate of 2014. In its inspection reports, the Environmental Assessment Office notes dozens of violations by Coastal GasLink in 2018 and 2019. The violations range ''from blocking Indigenous people from accessing their traplines to missing deadlines on commitments to conserve caribou and endangered plants''.

Climate change It is expected that the Coastal GasLink pipeline will transport up to five billion cubic feet of natural gas every day when in operation. When burned, this natural gas is equivalent to the emission of 585.5 million pounds of CO2 every day. This corresponds to approximately 13% of Canada's daily greenhouse gas emissions in 2017. In general, all development of untapped fossil fuel sources is incompatible with the Paris climate agreement. Analysis by Oil Change International shows that the currently developed fossil fuel reserves for gas, oil and coal are already double the remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance of staying below 1.5°C of global warming.

An article published by Canada's National Observer in June 2020 report that the Canadian government is undermining its own climate goals by supporting pipeline projects such as the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

Pollution The Coastal GasLink pipeline will carry gas fracked from the Montney Shale Formation. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the technology being used to develop unconventional hydrocarbon reservoires. Scientific research shows that the employment of fracking negatively impacts public health, water, soil and air. The technique makes use of several dangerous chemicals that are released during the process causing pollution.

Physicians in Dawson Creek (where the natural gas that Coastal GasLink will carry is fracked) recently warned for health issues related to fracking activities, after seeing patients with symptoms they could not explain. These symptoms include nosebleeds, respiratory illness and rare cancer types.

Diesel spills In June 2020, The Tyee reported that two fuel spills occurred on Wet'suwet'en territory. Both of the spills caused 500 litres of diesel to leak into the ground. One of the spills occurred at the Community-Industry Safety Office of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which was set up to patrol pipeline protests in the area. The second spill occurred at a work camp for the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Both of these spills were not reported to the hereditary chiefs until days after the fact.

Industrial work camps Besides Coastal GasLink's noncompliance with conditions set out in its initial Environmental Assessment Certificate, in its application to B.C. Supreme Court the hereditary chiefs point to the results of an inquiry into the cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry found that there is ''substantial evidence that natural resource projects [like Coastal GasLink] increase violence against Indigenous women and children and two-spirit individuals'' through the creation of 'man camps'. The inquiry calls for the ''government to do gender-based analysis of the impact of new resource projects''. According to the Wet'suwet'en, Coastal GasLink's 'Social and Economic Effects Management Plan' falls short and does not include such an analysis.