Reducing Greenhouse Gases in British Columbia
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
British Columbia has established targets for greenhouse gas reduction, and enshrined these in law through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act:
- By 2020, B.C. will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent, compared to 2007 levels. In addition, legally binding targets are set for 2012 and 2016, at six per cent and 18 per cent compared to 2007 levels, respectively.
- By 2050, GHG emissions in the Province will be reduced by at least 80 per cent below 2007 levels.
- By 2010, the B.C. public sector will be carbon neutral. In other words, the government is setting an example and keeping its own carbon footprint as small as possible.
The actions described on this page are designed to aid B.C. in achieving these aggressive greenhouse gas emissions targets in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
B.C. Economy-wide Suite of Climate Actions
Climate Action Plan
The Climate Action Plan outlines strategies and initiatives to move B.C. about 73% towards meeting the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020. It also provides information on how British Columbians can reduce energy consumption and save money while reducing their GHG emissions.
Strong Legislation
B.C.'s set of new, ground-breaking legislation is a crucial step in tackling climate change.
B.C. Climate Change Action Initiative
This initiative is being developed by the Climate Action Team (CAT), which will work on developing GHG- reduction targets, along with actions to make the B.C. Government carbon neutral by 2012. The team’s mandate is threefold:
- to offer expert advice to the province’s Cabinet Committee on Climate Action on the most credible, aggressive and economically viable targets possible for 2012 and 2016;
- to identify further actions in the short and medium term to reduce emissions and meet the 2020 target, and
- to provide advice on the provincial government’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2010.
On August 6, 2008, the CAT released “Meeting British Columbia’s Targets: A Report from the B.C. Climate Action Team.” The report is open for public comment through the form below until October 6th, 2008.
A Report from the B.C. Climate Action Team - Meeting British Columbia’s Targets - July 28, 2008
B.C.’s Revenue-neutral Carbon Tax
On July 1, 2008, the Province started to phase in a revenue‑neutral carbon tax (revenue from the tax will be returned to taxpayers by reductions in other B.C. taxes). The purpose of the carbon tax is to encourage individuals and businesses to make more environmentally responsible choices, reducing their use of fossil fuels and related emissions. There will be built-in protection for lower-income British Columbians.
Regional Cap-and-Trade System
British Columbia is the first province to introduce legislation enabling it to implement a greenhouse gas emissions cap and trade system through the Greenhouse Gas (Cap and Trade) Act . This legislation allows B.C. to establish its own provincial cap and trade system or adopt the system that is currently being designed among signatories to the Western Climate Initiative. The cap-and-trade program will be integrated with British Columbia's existing carbon tax.
- Click here for description of the emissions trading that would occur under a cap and trade program.
BC is participating with Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and seven US states (Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Montana) in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), to implement a market-based, multi-sector “cap and trade” system to reduce GHG emissions. The WCI is a collaboration which was launched in February 2007 by the Governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington to develop regional strategies to address climate change. WCI is identifying, evaluating and implementing collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region. Design of the system is underway and scheduled for completion by September 2008.
- Click here for description of how a cap and trade system works and the advantage of a multi-jurisdictional cap and trade system.
BC Energy Plan
The BC Energy Plan sets aggressive targets for zero net GHG emissions and investments in new energy-generation technologies — to "green the grid," provide clean, remote energy and reduce energy losses. The plan includes an ambitious target to acquire 50% of BC Hydro’s incremental resource needs through energy conservation by 2020.
As part of the BC Energy Plan, the BC BioEnergy Strategy will help B.C. decrease GHG emissions, strengthen its economic competitiveness and its electricity self-sufficiency. Bioenergy turns the challenges of the mountain-pine-beetle infestation into new opportunities, and promotes the development of bioenergy technologies.
Waste Management
Legislation is being developed during 2008, under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Emissions Standards) Statutes Amendment Act, to phase in new requirements for methane capture in waste management operations (including landfills, composting facilities and sewage treatment plants). Methane is a major emission source that can be used to generate clean energy.
The Ministry of Environment is seeking stakeholder comment on the proposed new requirements through its Intentions Paper for Consultation process.
Green Building Code
The Green Building Code will introduce the highest energy-efficiency standards in Canada.
Transportation
The Province is taking significant steps to promote public transit, alternative transportation, compact communities and cleaner vehicles and fuels.
Learn more about B.C.'s efforts through the Climate Action Secretariat
B.C. Public Sector Leadership on Climate Action
Carbon Neutral Government under Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (GGRTA)
In 2007, B.C. put into law the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets on the continent, including requiring all public sector organizations to become carbon neutral by 2010, with carbon neutral travel for core government as of October 2007. British Columbia is the first jurisdiction in North America to have made such a commitment.
Carbon neutrality involves measuring all GHG emissions for which an entity is responsible, pursuing actions to reduce those emissions as much as possible and netting the emissions to zero by offsetting the remaining emissions through the use of emission offsets. As part of GGRTA’s carbon-neutral requirements, public sector organizations (PSOs) will be required to report on their emissions levels, the actions they have taken to reduce these levels, and their plans for continuing to minimize emissions. After aggressive reductions have been made by PSOs, offsets provide a technically and economically feasible way to bring their carbon balance to zero net emissions on an annual basis.
The Ministry of Environment is developing regulations to guide the procurement of emissions offsets for carbon neutrality and is seeking stakeholder comment through its Intentions Paper for Consultation process.
Pacific Carbon Trust
The Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT) is a newly established Crown agency that has been given the mandate to acquire BC-based qualifying offsets on behalf of the BC public sector organizations to achieve their carbon neutral commitment under GGRTA. The initial mandate of the PCT is to offer credible, low-cost offsets to meet public sector demand for offsets necessary to meet its targets for a carbon-neutral public sector. PCT may also be securing offsets for those local governments that have voluntarily committed to carbon neutral corporate operations by 2012. Once up and running, the PCT may also sell offsets to individuals and many B.C. businesses.
The PCT is currently scoping what the market can offer in terms of offset supply through an RFI on the BC Bid website, maximizing on the aggregate volume of purchases to obtain cost-effective reductions. PCT expects to initiate procurement in the Fall. By 2010, PCT expects to acquire annually between 600,000 and 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) offsets. In the near term, PCT expects to acquire a smaller volume of offsets to compensate for core government travel. The public sector organizations will pay $25 for every offset it purchases through the PCT (measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.) Budget 2008 provides $24 million to invest in GHG-reduction projects in BC.
This program encourages individuals and communities to make more energy-efficient choices for their homes, businesses and vehicles.
Community-Level Climate Action
Community-Level Actions
The Province is committed to working with local governments to find solutions to climate change. GHG-reduction targets and strategies will be legally required in all official community plans and regional growth strategies. Communities themselves are joining together to address climate change, through such partnerships as the B.C. Climate Action Charter.
Agreements with Other Jurisdictions
The Province has entered into agreements to take collaborative action to address climate change with Manitoba, Washington State, Oregon and California.
september 2009
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