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CLIMATE CHANGE Weather, Climate and the Future: B.C.'s Plan The Plan's 40 Actions and Progress on Each Action December 2005 British Columbia's plan to address climate change is the result of extensive research and consultation with, among others, scientists, health officials, economists
and everyday British Columbians. The plan's 40 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are listed below in five categories. Progress has already been made in the majority of these
actions.
Sustainable Energy Production and Efficient Use 1. The government will continue to implement the B.C. Energy Plan, which promotes alternative energy and investment in conservation and energy efficiency
through a 50 per cent clean-energy goal for new electricity demand, new rate structures and regulatory changes. The province has facilitated the largest purchase of green energy in B.C.'s history, resulting in 16 power projects, including hydro, landfill gas and
wind energy. 2. An industry advisory group is helping to prepare a strategy to ensure that B.C. remains a leader in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The province has invested $4.4 million in clean energy and fuel cell research in the past two years, promoting the development of clean energy sources.
In addition, the provincial and federal governments committed a total of $13 million for the fuel cell industry in B.C. 3. The government will enhance energy conservation and alternative energy with a comprehensive energy strategy and facilitation of technology road map's
for hydrogen and bioenergy. B.C. is already reducing by over one million tonnes greenhouse gas emissions annually because of BC Hydro's Power Smart program.
4. The government will work with large industrial emitters to ensure that federal greenhouse gas reduction targets are fair and to identify barriers and
solutions to emission reduction measures. B.C. has clearly called for the federal government to credit the province's clean energy production and the early action that has already occurred in
various industrial sectors to reduce emissions. 5. The government will work with trade and industry associations to promote greenhouse gas measures in smaller businesses, including ecoefficiency measures
in smaller manufacturing plants. BC Hydro's Product Incentive Program for businesses has been specifically designed to help organizations reduce their energy costs and save money by providing incentives to encourage simple product replacement with more efficient technology. 6. Climate change will be incorporated into B.C.'s transportation planning and investment strategies. The government has committed over $365 million for the construction of a rapid transit line from Richmond to Vancouver and over $150 million for the extension of a rapid transit line to the northeast sector of the GVRD. It also supports initiatives for use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.
7. A provincial transportation demand management initiative will also address greenhouse gas reduction. The government has committed $2 million to cycling infrastructure across the province, encouraging a clean form of transportation. 8. As part of a Canada-B.C. partnership, the government is investing in international border crossings and other infrastructure to reduce congestion in
the Lower Mainland.
9. The government will consider further incentives to encourage the purchase of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles. Provincial fuel tax has been removed from biofuel blends and a PST exemption of up to $5,000 has been applied to clean-running
midsized buses. 10. Driver information explaining how to reduce emissions will be improved. Government will provide drivers in B.C. with information about reducing emissions through good driving habits and vehicle maintenance. This information will be added Ministry of Transportation and ICBC driver training materials. 11. Work is underway to adapt building standards based on LEEDTM (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) to the circumstances that apply in B.C. As of December 2003, 31 of 54 Canadian LEEDTM projects were registered in B.C. 12. The government is updating minimum energy
efficiency standards for equipment, and is conducting a review of energy performance in buildings. A unique federal-provincial pilot project promoting energy efficiency in communities is underway in Kelowna, under the jointly sponsored Community Action on Energy Efficiency program. 13. The provincial government will encourage local government action and will expand local government
infrastructure planning grants. B.C. supported the development of a Greenhouse Gas Action Guide to assist municipalities in implementing immediate cost-effective
actions to reduce emissions. 14. A remote communities' clean energy initiative is underway to explore alternatives to diesel generators
and fuel oil use in remote communities. 15. The government will partner in selected leading edge high performance commercial buildings.
16. The government will continue to manage its forests in a sustainable manner, incorporating carbon
management objectives where appropriate. Approximately 70 percent of B.C.'s annual harvest now comes from operations that are either third-party certified or meet
International Standards Organization's requirements. 17. Government will continue to assert ownership of any forest sink and associated benefits, and call
for recognition of the cost of maintaining that sink. 18. The
government will develop a policy framework to provide business certainty and support the creation of incremental forestry sinks. 19. The government will continue to improve understanding and protection of the forest carbon sink by
supporting modeling and ongoing research, and will continue to protect this sink.
20. The provincial government will enter
into discussion with the Government of Canada on forest management mitigation strategies for mountain pine beetle. 21. The government will improve fire protection for communities in British Columbia. Government developed a Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Analysis Took Kit and provided $3 million to the Union of B.C. Municipalities to help local governments prepare for fire and other emergencies. In 2004, it distributed thousands of FireSmart manuals to assist homeowners in making their home and property less susceptible to wildfire. Accepted all 42 recommendations included in the Filmon Report into the 2003 wildfire season. Among these was a multimillion
investment in additional firefighting crews and equipment. 22. The government will limit the economic and social costs of the mountain pine beetle outbreak. Government has responded to the mountain pine beetle outbreak by aggressively working on detection and removal of trees on the leading edge of the infestation. It has also struck a Bark Beetle Task Force to develop new uses and new markets for recovered wood, and to promote diversification of forest-based communities among various other initiatives.
23. Under a B.C.-Canada agreement, provincial emissions from agriculture will be reduced by 8 per cent
by 2008. 24. The government will provide support to the B.C. Agriculture Council to implement best management
practices on B.C. farms and ranches.
25. The B.C. Buildings Corporation (BCBC) is conducting energy audits and retrofits of provincial buildings
under a renewed energy management initiative. BCBC has begun work towards its target of a 12 percent reduction in the energy intensity of provincial buildings from 2000
to 2007 through self-financing retrofit projects. 26. A new Higher Performance Building Policy will be applied to all new provincially funded buildings. Green Buildings B.C., a provincial initiative with BCBC, has been effectively promoting dramatic increases in the performance
of new and existing buildings managed by B.C.'s education and health care agencies. 27. The government will develop guidelines and performance targets for ministries and Crown agencies to
acquire cleaner vehicles, fuels and transportation services.
Government currently has 64 hybrid electric cars in its fleet, the largest such fleet in Canada. It has also instructed ministries to consider hybrid vehicles when replacing older gas and diesel models.
28. The government will encourage ministries and Crown corporations to incorporate emission reducing policies and guidelines
in their service plans. The Ministries of Environment, and Agriculture and Lands, recognize climate change as a risk factor in their annual service
plans. 29. The government will address climate change and extreme weather in planning and operations. Government has enacted both a Fire Management Plan and a Drought Management Plan to deal with just two extreme weather-related
issues. 30. The government will implement effective monitoring and reporting procedures for climate change and
its impacts in cooperation with partners. B.C.'s weather and river flow monitoring networks have been reviewed to determine how effectively they will meet future information needs to manage natural resources, protect public safety and design infrastructure.
31. The government will help develop climate models and other tools for assessing climate change risks
and adaptation options. The Ministry of Environment, in partnership with Ouranos Inc., a climate science consortium, is developing high resolution regional
models of climate conditions to improve understanding of how global climate change processes may affect B.C. 32. The government will support applied climate change research that meets the needs of decision makers. B.C. has supported research on climate change and surface water supplies in the Okanagan, and on climate change and biodiversity. 33. The government will participate in the development of capacity throughout B.C. to respond to extreme
weather and climate change. Government has invested millions of dollars in drought planning, wildfire management and into fighting the mountain pine beetle infestation.
34. The government will prepare and deliver an outreach strategy that supports adaptation and greenhouse
gas reduction initiatives in the Plan. Government has invested over $100,000 in support of the BC Climate Exchange and the Greenhouse Guide Action Guide. These outreach programs provide communities and individuals with information on addressing greenhouse gas emissions. B.C. has documented historic climate change in its 2002 report Indicators of Climate Change for British Columbia, and supports
regional and sectoral workshops on climate change. 35. Joint initiatives will be pursued with other jurisdictions where these initiatives support government objectives.
36. Government is implementing the Drought Action Plan. About $900,000 from the $2 million drought planning fund has been committed to 75 local water suppliers. 37. Information and support is being provided to communities facing flood risks. During 2004, eleven workshops were held around the province to train local flood observers, and a survey of all 300 dikes in
B.C. was completed. Survey information will be available online soon and will help local authorities and the Inspector of Dikes ensure public safety. 38. The government is supporting climate science and the development of technical tools relating to water
resources management. Government has supported the development of stormwater management models, establishment of weather monitoring stations on agricultural lands, and research on groundwater supply in the Okanagan.
39. Government will support integrated watershed management to address water resource issues including
drought and flooding. 40. The province will work with partners to develop a coastal flood forecasting capability. B.C. is supporting scientists at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney in the development of a storm surge forecasting model. |
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