B.C.’s Long Awaited Climate Leadership Plan Released

GLOBE-Net, August 19, 2016 – The British Columbia government today unveiled the Climate Leadership Plan, with goals to create up to 66,000 jobs over the next ten years, and to reduce net annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25 million tonnes below current forecasts by 2050.

Premier Christy Clark

“We are continuing to lead the way in reducing emissions and creating jobs with the release of our new Climate Leadership Plan,” said Premier Christy Clark. “We are taking action with an approach that balances environmental responsibility with economic opportunity.”

The plan’s initial 21 action items include making electric vehicles more affordable and buildings more energy efficient. Government is also targeting sequestration opportunities in the forestry sector and achieving emission reductions in natural gas production and processing.

The overall level and rate of emissions reduction are less than what was recommended last year by the Climate Leadership Team (CLT), a group made up of diverse leaders from British Columbia businesses, First Nations, local governments, communities, academia, and the environmental sector.

Some members of that consultative group have signaled disappointment with the plan released today, calling it a missed opportunity to reduce emissions and to support B.C.’s transition to a clean economy (Pembina Institute), and a failure (Clean Energy Canada).

“We are taking further action to keep our province on track to meeting our greenhouse gas reduction targets, while continuing to grow our economy,” said B.C.’s Environment Minister Mary Polak.

Emissions will be reduced further as subsequent actions are introduced, putting B.C. on course to achieve its 2050 target of an 80% reduction in emissions from 2007 levels.

The Climate Leadership Plan has been put forward as a living, dynamic document and the Government intends to establish periodic progress reviews on meeting its targets and will update the plan as necessary.

The Plan will be further updated over the coming year in response to work underway to develop a pan-Canadian approach to climate action under the Vancouver Declaration announced in March at GLOBE 2016.

Four different areas of climate action were set out in that Declaration including:

• Clean technology, innovation, and jobs;
• Specific mitigation opportunities;
• Adaptation and climate resilience; and
• Carbon pricing mechanisms.

The plan does reflect many recommendations made by the Climate Leadership Team and feedback received through two rounds of public engagement with stakeholders and citizens, as well as consultations with sector-specific industry groups noted  Parliamentary Secretary for Energy Literacy and the Environment Jordan Sturdy.

“As chair of the Climate Leadership Team, I am very proud of the ideas the team, along with thousands of families, First Nations, local governments and organizations submitted to government,” he said.

Today’s announcement addresses 18 of the Climate Leadership Team’s 32 recommendations including reaffirming its legislated 2050 target of achieving a reduction in GHG emissions of 80% below 2007 levels.

Action items cited include:

NATURAL GAS

1. Launching a strategy to reduce methane emissions;
2. Regulating carbon capture and storage projects; and
3. Working to provide the necessary capital to develop the required infrastructure to close the gap between electricity and natural gas costs:

TRANSPORTATION

4. Increasing the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation fuels to 15% by 2030;
5. Providing Incentives for using renewable natural gas for use in commercial fleets, as well as expanding fueling infrastructure;
6. Providing incentives for purchasing a clean energy vehicles;
7. Supporting vehicle charging development for zero emission vehicles; and
8. Launching a10-year plan to improve B.C.’s transportation network by transitioning to low carbon fuels in buses and for BC Ferries; a new Broadway SkyTrain line in Vancouver; and Developing rapid transit in Surrey; and reducing congestion by replacing the George Massey Tunnel.

FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE

9. Enhancing the carbon storage potential of B.C.’s forests; and
10. Developing a nutrient management program to reduce emissions.

INDUSTRY AND FACILITIES

11. Making B.C.’s electricity 100% renewable or clean;
12. Efficient electrification through expanded demand-side management (DSM) programs for BC Hydro;
13. Fueling marine vessels with cleaner burning LNG;
14. Setting new energy efficiency standards for gas fired boilers; and
15. Expanding incentives to promote adoption of efficient gas equipment;

COMMUNITIES AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

16. Instituting regulations for more energy efficient buildings
17. Encouraging development of net zero buildings
18. Refreshing the Climate Action Charter for communities
19. Creating a strategy to turn waste into resources and to reduce the waste sent to landfills.

PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERSHIP

20. Promoting use of low carbon and renewable materials in infrastructure including approving use of Portland Limestone Cement and increasing use of B.C. wood products that store carbon and reduce emissions, through B.C.’s Wood First program; and
21. Reducing emissions and planning for adaptation in the public sector.

Readers can view the Climate Leadership Plan, and learn more about the actions B.C. is taking, at: www.gov.bc.ca/climateleadership