B.C. announces ‘accelerated’ climate crisis plan; reduce emissions by 2030

The B.C. government introduced a plan Monday to reach its legislated target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The CleanBC program was first introduced in 2018, to promote the use of cleaner energy and reduce carbon emissions across all sectors. The announcement on Monday accelerates the measures to help the province achieve the Paris emission reductions targets, along with reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Premier John Horgan said the effects of climate change were noticeable during this summer’s wildfire season and heatwaves, and that the climate crisis demands greater urgency worldwide.

We're strengthening our climate plan to reduce climate pollution, reach our 2030 targets and get to net-zero emissions by 2050. By working together, we can build a stronger, cleaner economy, and a more resilient future for everyone. Learn more: https://t.co/gklJO1JZ9C#CleanBC pic.twitter.com/vrugQtCRrY

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) October 25, 2021

“The province is uniquely positioned to thrive in a low carbon economy,” Horgan said. “For decades now in British Columbia, successive governments have focused on this initiative, and we have dialed it up since 2017, because the chance and the opportunity to build an economy that’s focused on clean energy, focused on reducing emissions, is exactly what British Columbians have asked us to do.”

The province said the updated roadmap includes “a series of actions across eight pathways,” which include: an increase in the price of carbon; requirements for new industry projects to be net zero by 2050; enhanced methane emissions regulations; a “comprehensive” review of the oil and gas royalty system; all new buildings to be zero-carbon by 2030, a plan for nation-leading take up of zero-emission vehicles; zero-emission targets for heavy-duty vehicles; an enhanced active and public transportation plan; energy efficiency requirements; and further support for clean hydrogen and other negative emissions technology.

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“Here in B.C., the threat of climate change is no longer decades or even years away. The impacts are all around us, from devastating wildfires to intense heat waves and droughts,” Horgan said. “The scale of the climate emergency demands that we act with even greater urgency than ever before. By bringing people and businesses together, we can rise to the challenge and seize the opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient B.C. for everyone. That’s what this plan is all about.”

In a statement, the province said the updated plan will help “power more businesses and communities with clean, renewable made-in-B.C. hydro electricity.”

Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman said the plan puts a greater focus on transitioning away from fossil fuels faster and adopting clean energy solutions.

“We have comprehensive programs and pathways with a range of options and initiatives, across all sectors of the economy and community. Ways to help average people lower their carbon footprint, ways to help industry reduce emissions, and therefore be viable in a carbon-constrained world. Those are the measures that we’ve put in place in this roadmap,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart has “applauded” the plan. In a statement, Stewart said the update is “a science-based, equitable, and aggressive plan.”

I applaud BC Govt's new #CleanBC Roadmap. It's a science-based, equitable & aggressive plan that works in partnership with @CityofVancouver to help us meet our own ambitious targets.

Every level of gov't has a role to play, but it's only through partnerships that we'll succeed. https://t.co/KmJTOkU6n1

— Kennedy Stewart (@kennedystewart) October 25, 2021

“The Climate emergency is our greatest challenge, but it is also our strongest catalyst in transforming for the better how we move, live, and work. The City of Vancouver is ready to help make the CleanBC Roadmap a reality,” he wrote.

However, climate crisis activist group Wilderness Committee has slammed the update, saying the announcement only includes a policy framework, but “little detail for how the oil and gas sector will reach its target of 33 to 38 per cent reductions by 2030.”

We must protect our planet for the next generation. I am happy to report we’re expanding CleanBC with our Roadmap to 2030: a continent-leading plan that creates a made in B.C. approach to protect our environment and create jobs as we move towards our 2030 climate targets!#CleanBC pic.twitter.com/iAqDnhPB6h

— Murray Rankin (@MurrayRankinNDP) October 26, 2021

In a statement, campaigner Peter McCartney said a target on its own is not a plan, and doesn’t include how the government plans to deal with “growing pollution from fracking and LNG.”

“CleanBC does not reflect the urgency of the climate crisis,” McCartney said. “Even as our communities burn to the ground and our most vulnerable succumb to record temperatures, the B.C. NDP government is still trying to appease the fracking companies who are responsible.”