Legislation for Reducing Greenhouse Gases
The government has recently passed a number of significant pieces of climate-action legislation that define the British Columbia approach to reducing GHG emissions and preparing for the new low-carbon realities of the future.
Listing of climate change related legislation:
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (GGRTA) (November 20, 2007)
Passed in November 2007, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act sets the most aggressive targets in North America for reducing greenhouse gases. Under the act, B.C.'s GHG emissions are to be reduced by at least 33% below 2007 levels by 2020, with further targets to be set for 2012 and 2015 by the end of 2008. A further emission-reduction target of 80% below 2007 levels is required for 2050.
Revenue Neutral - Carbon Tax Act (July 1, 2008)
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). There will be built-in protection for lower-income British Columbians. For more information, see the backgrounder.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Vehicle Emissions Standards) Act (April 29, 2008)
This act puts into law the 2008 throne-speech commitment to reducing tailpipe emissions from light-duty vehicles, making B.C.'s GHG-emission standards equivalent to those of California. This will cut GHG emissions by 3% relative to current models — a reduction of 600,000 tonnes of GHG emissions annually by 2016. For more information, see the backgrounder.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Emissions Standards) Statutes Amendment Act (April 17, 2008)
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Emissions Standards) Statutes Act focuses on reducing GHG emissions from certain industrial operations, while increasing opportunities in the bioenergy sector. For example, waste-management operations (including landfills, composting facilities and sewage treatment plants) will be required to manage GHGs — by reducing emissions or capturing them, with the option of tapping into their energy-generation potential. For more information, see the news release.
Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Amendment Act (April 15, 2008)
The B.C. government has introduced the Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Amendment Act to support local governments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy and working towards creating more compact, green, and sustainable communities. For more information see the backgrounder.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act (April 3, 2008)
The Cap and Trade Act will authorize hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions, making B.C. the first Canadian to introduce such legislation. It will create the framework to allow B.C. to take part in the cap-and-trade system developed through the Western Climate Initiative. For more information, see the news release.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements) Act
(April 1, 2008)
This act will promote the use of renewable fuel in transportation fuel blends, by setting new requirements for transportation fuels. It will thereby decrease the amount of carbon in transportation fuels, and allow B.C. to meet its commitment to adopt a low-carbon fuel standard similar to that of California. For more information, see the news release.
Amendments to the Utilities Commission Act (March 31, 2008)
These amendments will encourage public utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, take demand-side measures, and produce, generate and acquire electricity from clean or renewable sources. For more information, see the news release.
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