Eight years ago, then-premier Gordon Campbell launched the province’s Climate Action Plan, which established the B.C. carbon tax, legislated emission reduction targets and other policies.
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In addition, the plan makes no mention of a recommendation made by the leadership team that stated that B.C. should implement a legislated target for 2030 to reduce emissions by 40 percent below 2007 levels by that date.
Figures compiled by the province show emissions fell for several years in a row, but have increased slowly since 2010.
The B.C. government has given up on its 2020 goal for greenhouse gas emissions and is looking to tree planting, agricultural efforts and cleaning up the natural gas industry to reach its longer-term goals.
Clark said the actions will reduce net annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25 million tonnes below current forecasts by 2050.
“We risk losing our advantage of being a leader on climate action and in fact I think if we put out a plan that really fails to significantly reduce carbon pollution we’re going to be seen nearly as a laughing stock in the climate leader circle”.
Environmental organizations immediately expressed disappointment and criticized the plan for failing to include key recommendations made by the government’s own “climate leadership team”.
“Under the Climate Leadership Plan released today, carbon pollution will not start to significantly decline for nearly 15 years-assuming all the reductions in the plan come to fruition”, she said.
“Through the Climate Leadership Plan, we are taking strong actions that will ensure we continue to be an worldwide climate leader, and that our province remains a great place to live, work and raise a family”, Polak said.
“We looked at all the ways to reduce carbon pollution in British Columbia, and we found that the most efficient and the cheapest way to reduce carbon pollution was by using our exiting carbon tax.it’s the best tool that we have.”
“The Climate Leadership Team presented her with a balanced and responsible plan for keeping B.C.at the forefront of responding to the climate crisis”, said Mahon.
“A climate leadership plan should do two basic things: cut carbon pollution, and help British Columbians prosper from the shift to a clean economy”, she said quoted in a media release.
The Environment Ministry didn’t comment Thursday on the release of its plan.
That puts B.C.in stark contrast to Canada’s other most populous provinces – Ontario, Quebec and even Alberta, all of which are projecting a decrease in emissions. “But a strong climate plan also needs to position B.C.to be competitive in a low-carbon economy – in an increasingly de-carbonizing worldwide market”. “Our carbon tax already leads the country-now we must work with our provincial and federal partners to develop a carbon pricing model that works for all”.
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“While the plan claims to create a decrease in emissions the actual policies outlined will likely lead to an increase in Carbon dioxide emissions over the next decade”, said Karen Mahon, national director of Stand.
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“After months of stalling, the government has dumped a toothless plan on a Friday afternoon in August with a half-hearted shrug”, Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee said in a statement.
