B.C. government receives CleanBC Award at COP26 summit

British Columbia’s CleanBC program, which encourages a reduction in emissions across industry as a whole, has won an award at the United Nations COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

It received the award for taking a proactive approach to helping industry get on board with its broader climate change goals.

A Sunday news release from the province’s environment ministry says the program was awarded most creative climate solution by the Under2 Coalition, a global alliance of state and regional governments committed to climate action in line with the 2015 Paris Accord.

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

It says the CleanBC program uses two complementary initiatives to encourage industries to reduce emissions.

“We are expanding and accelerating climate action as we work across sectors to reduce climate-harming pollution and create new opportunities for people and businesses in the clean economy,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

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“It’s an honour to receive the award recognizing the success of this program is about strong collaboration supporting innovation. The award is another indication that we are on the right path through the new CleanBC Roadmap to 2030.”

The first uses a portion of the carbon tax paid by emitters to contribute to projects that reduce greenhouse gases in areas such as mining, pulp and paper, cement, agriculture, and oil and gas.

It says the second one reduces carbon tax costs if an industry can show they are among the lowest emitting in the world for their sector.

Today we launched a stronger climate plan called the #CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 to meet 100% of our emissions targets through accelerated and expanded actions to respond to the urgency of the climate crisis and build a cleaner, stronger economy for everyone. https://t.co/AsboeNZemW

— George Heyman (@GeorgeHeyman) October 25, 2021

The ministry says B.C. has set greenhouse gas emissions targets for oil and gas of up to 38 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030.

The CleanBC Industry Fund is investing $43 million in 32 projects across the province to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, with additional contributions coming from industry and partners. In total, the projects are expected to reduce approximately 1.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent by 2030.

To be eligible, applicants must have paid carbon tax and have emissions over 10,000 tonnes of CO2e per year under the Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act.