British Columbia: New Climate Leadership Plan

The Government of British Columbia released its Climate Leadership Plan, which, it claims, has the potential to reduce net annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 25 million tonnes below current forecasts by 2050.

The plan features 21 action items. Highlights include:

•  a strategy targeting natural gas extraction and processing to reduce methane emissions;
• regulating carbon capture and storage projects in cooperation with the federal government;
• increasing B.C.’s low-carbon fuel standard to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels to 15% by 2030;
• promoting renewable natural gas for use in commercial transportation fleets and expanding fuelling infrastructure;
• expanding the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) program to support new vehicle incentives;
• expanding support for the development of electric vehicle charging stations in buildings;
• enhancing the carbon storage potential of B.C.’s forests and encouraging sequestration projects;
• developing a Nutrient Management Program to reduce fertilizer use and GHG emissions;
• making BC’s electricity 100% renewable or clean by 2025;
• introducing new energy efficiency standards for gas fired boilers;
• expanding incentives to promote adoption of efficient gas equipment;
• regulating more energy efficient buildings;
• refreshing the Climate Action Charter for communities;
• creating a strategy to turn waste into resources;
• promoting use of low carbon and renewable materials (such as Portland cement) in infrastructure; and
• planning for climate change adaptation in the public sector.

The Climate Leadership Plan reflects many recommendations made by the Climate Leadership Team and feedback received through two rounds of public engagement with stakeholders and citizens. It will be further updated over the coming year, in response to work underway between the federal government and the provinces and territories to develop a pan-Canadian approach to climate action under the Vancouver Declaration announced in March, 2016.