We were the first province to join the Western Climate Initiative and we’re also the Canadian co-chair of the Initiative.
BC Liberal policies have prompted the private sector to invest more than $2.4 billion in new clean power in B.C. to date, creating well-paying jobs in rural communities – with billions more in investment underway.
We’re the first North American jurisdiction requiring carbon sequestration for coal-fired power facilities.
B.C.’s revenue-neutral tax on carbon emissions will have the effect of taking almost 800,000 vehicles off the road and will fund over $2.3 billion in tax cuts and assistance for low income families over the next three years.
Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance's annual report card, ranking Canada's provinces and jurisdictions on promoting energy efficiency, gave us the top score of A+, up from C- in 2000, as a result of our BC Energy Plan and climate action initiatives.
Created LiveSmart BC , a $60 million program providing a wide range of rebates, tax exemptions and other incentives to reduce GHG’s and save people money.
Examples under LiveSmart BC:
$2,000 PST rebates on new fuel efficient vehicles.
Up to $1,450 for new efficient furnaces.
Up to $260 for energy efficient hot water heaters.
For the first time ever, wind power projects are under construction in B.C.
We’ve established 57 new parks, 143 conservancies, one ecological reserve and nine protected areas since 2001.
We’ve expanded more than 50 parks and six ecological reserves, protecting more than 1.8 million hectares, an area almost three times the size of PEI.
We introduced additional legislation during the Spring 2009 legislative session that once passed will bring the total number of new B.C. parks to 58 since 2001, two additional ecological reserves, and a total of approximately 60 new park expansions.
We’ve made capital investments of more than $107 million over the past five years to improve park facilities and acquire new lands.
We’ve finalized five consensus-based land use plans since 2001:
Central Coast
North Coast
Morice
Sea-to-Sky
Haida Gwaii
We’ve reached strategic land use agreements with 27 First Nations.
We made the B.C. Spirit Bear the official provincial mammal emblem of B.C. in 2006.
We put time limits on water licenses to maintain public ownership and oversight.
Air Quality We believe that clean air and a healthy environment are fundamental to our quality of life, and can be achieved through strong policies and cooperation with communities.
We launched the Air Action Plan in June 2008 which sets out 28 actions to reduce air pollution by promoting clean transportation, clean industry, and clean communities. These actions include:
Promoting a province-wide, anti-idling campaign.
Encouraging companies to use the cleanest available technologies.
Supporting people in replacing old wood stoves with cleaner alternatives.
We have closed all 80 Tier I beehive burners in B.C. - these are industrial woodwaste burners that were close to communities, schools and hospitals. The remaining 25 burners (Tier II class - not close to communities, schools and hospitals) will be phased out by 2016.
We use scientific indicators to measure the effectiveness of our Air Action Plan , and worked together with the federal government to develop Canada-wide standards for the two key indicators of fine particulate matter.
We’ve committed to meeting or beating the fine particulate standards by 2010.
As a result of investing $15 million in the Scrap-It Program , British Columbians are now eligible to receive up to $2,250 towards transit passes or the purchase of a new low emission vehicle when they ‘scrap’ a 1995 or older vehicle.
To safeguard human health and protect air quality, we’ve put in place some of the most stringent standards for wood-fired agriculture boiler emissions in North America.
We’ve worked with municipal and regional governments to develop ranges of ways to minimize and manage air pollution.
Airshed management plans are now in place in Prince George, Whistler, Willliams Lake and the Fraser Valley, just to name a few.
We successfully opposed the Sumas Energy 2 Power Plant, which was a Washington-State based energy project that would have had a significant effect on air quality on this side of the Canadian border.
B.C. was the first province in Canada to pilot a new Air Quality Health Index, which provides information on local air quality, along with tips for reducing air pollution and its risks.
Alternative Energy We believe that B.C. can become a world leader in the growing market of green, alternative energy, generating jobs and investment in new technologies in the province while at the same time meeting our Energy Plan commitment to acquiring 90 per cent of all new electricity from clean and renewable sources to help us become energy self-sufficient by 2016.
The world market for alternative energy (solar, wind & bioenergy) is currently worth more than $116 billion, up 53 per cent compared to 2007.
We developed the BC Bioenergy Strategy to turn waste into clean electricity and biofuels, and help turn challenges into new opportunities for both forestry and agriculture.
For the first time ever in B.C., private sector innovation is being freely applied to the development of clean tidal, geothermal, wind, run-of-river and biomass projects across the province.
We introduced further incentives in 2005 to support the development of wind power projects and supported the construction of B.C.’s first tidal energy project. There are currently two wind power projects under construction in B.C.
Our policies have prompted the private sector to invest more than $2 billion in new clean power in B.C.
We established the $25-million Innovative Clean Energy Fund to support promising clean power technology projects and help them succeed.
$25 million to establish a provincial Bioenergy Network for greater investment and innovation in bioenergy projects & technologies.
$10 million over three years to advance provincial biodiesel production.
We passed legislation in 2008, setting a five per cent average renewable fuel standard for diesel fuel and gasoline. We have made a commitment to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of transportation fuels by at least 10 per cent by the year 2020
B.C. is building a Hydrogen Highway that runs from Whistler to Victoria, with plans to extend it as far south as Baja, California.
We entered a federal-provincial partnership investing $89 million in the Hydrogen Highway for fuelling stations and 20 hydrogen fuel-cell buses.
We created Solar BC , a $5-million program to encourage the installation of solar hot water heaters in homes, municipal buildings, schools, social housing and First Nations communities.
Bear Hunting We believe that decisions regarding the hunting of bears and other animals must be science-informed and reached through consensus-based planning in regions – not based on politics.
We are committed to bear habitat management across B.C., and work closely with stakeholders, especially First Nations, and particularly on grizzlies.
We rely on population statistics that are backed up by peer-reviewed, published science, which shows us that B.C. is home to Canada’s largest and healthiest population of grizzly bears.
B.C. is home to about half of Canada’s grizzly bear population, or approximately 16,000 grizzly bears - about one-quarter of the North American population.
Our efforts led to the Central and North Coast land use decisions and our commitment to establish three grizzly ‘no-hunting’ areas totalling 1.9 million hectares, as well as the establishment of 111 conservancies in that region since 2006 to protect bears and other wildlife.
We take the protection of B.C.’s bears seriously. Under the B.C. Wildlife Act it is illegal kill a Spirit Bear, with penalties up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison for a first offence.
Despite grizzly populations being able to withstand up to 9 per cent total human-caused mortality, only 2 per cent are actually hunted a year.
In March 2003 an independent scientific panel, appointed on a recommendation from the International Association for Bear Research and Management, confirmed our government is managing grizzly bears effectively and using sound population estimates.
Our policies strike a balance amongst the many competing interests such as guide outfitters, resident hunters, the ecotourism industry and others, by allowing them all to benefit economically, while ensuring that our number one priority – a healthy bear population – is protected
Bioenergy We believe our BC Bioenergy Strategy will help to find new uses for B.C. wood (including pine beetle-affected wood) and bring new economic opportunities to rural communities, while at the same time helping us achieve our targets for zero net greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation. Forest Minister Pat Bell talks about B.C.’s bioenergy sector.
Bioenergy is the process of converting biological resources such as wood waste or pine beetle wood; organic garbage conversion; methane from landfills; or agricultural waste into energy, thus avoiding or displacing non-renewable sources of energy such as gas and oil.
Biomass is considered clean or carbon neutral if it releases no more carbon into the atmosphere than it absorbed during its lifetime.
Our BC Bioenergy Strategy facilitates the development of these new energy industries utilizing materials like pine beetle wood.
To advance the strategy, we’re providing $25 million to establish and enhance B.C.’s Bioenergy Network and up to $10 million to support a three-year biodiesel production program.
B.C. is already a leader in bioenergy production. Over half of Canada’s biomass electricity production capacity is in B.C.
Over 800 megawatts of biomass electricity capacity is already installed in B.C. – enough for 640,000 households – and more is on the horizon through BC Hydro’s Bioenergy Call for Power.
Cap & Trade We believe in establishing a cap & trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from major polluters because it creates a market-based mechanism where those who reduce their emissions are rewarded while those emitting more must pay to pollute. This approach will result in dramatic reductions in emissions while fostering new technologies and economic opportunities growing jobs across B.C.
Today, we’re working in partnership with other jurisdictions to establish a large trading market for entities to compete within.
In 2008, we were the first province in Canada to introduce legislation authorizing hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions. This legislation gives us the framework to partner on a cap and trade system with other jurisdictions.
In 2007, we became the first province in Canada to join the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), a multi-jurisdictional partnership launched to address climate change.
The WCI includes a group of 11 member states and provinces representing over 83 million people with a collective GDP of $3.6 trillion and we expect more jurisdictions to join. B.C. is the Canadian Co-Chair, and Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba are also members.
The WCI is working on identifying, evaluating and putting in place ways to reduce GHGs, including development of a cap & trade system which could be in place by 2012.
How Cap and Trade Works:
Cap and trade regulatory systems establish an overall cap (limit) on emissions, while the “trade” part of the system allows regulated emitters to buy and sell emission allowances or buy offset units.
Those who reduce emissions more efficiently can sell their surplus units to those who find it challenging to do so.
Rather than government dictating technologies or emission standards, the system sets an overall cap on emissions from regulated sources.
The cap ensures that emissions are reduced, but the market determines where those reductions are achieved, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a more efficient, cost-effective way.
The larger the carbon trading market, the more efficient it will be.
Under our legislation, the province will establish the cap for designated large emitters by issuing emissions allowances for given periods of time.
Each of these emitters will be required to obtain a number of ‘compliance units’ equivalent to the amount of regulated GHG emissions it releases within the specified period environment.
The ‘compliance units’ are then surrendered to the government as proof of compliance under the cap.
Carbon Neutral Government We believe in putting the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets on the continent into law, including requiring all public sector organizations to become carbon neutral by 2010. B.C. is setting the example as the first jurisdiction in North America to legislate such a commitment. Barry Penner, Minister of Environment speaks about becoming a Carbon Neutral Government.
We passed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act in 2007, legally requiring every public sector organization to be carbon neutral by 2010 and every year thereafter.
Public sector organizations include government ministries, agencies, schools, colleges, universities, courthouses, prisons, health authorities and crown corporations.
Carbon neutrality is being achieved by determining government’s total greenhouse gas emissions, taking action to reduce those emissions and by purchasing offsets ensuring that our net emissions by 2010 are zero.
Total cost expected to become carbon neutral is less than $5 million for core government with greater savings in future years as we reduce energy consumption.
Measures to become carbon neutral:
Where possible, all new provincially-owned vehicles are hybrids or hybrid equivalent. The B.C. Government now has the largest fleet of hybrid vehicles in North America.
All emissions associated with government travel are now tracked and offset; new tools such as video and teleconferencing are being used to reduce the need to travel.
All new government buildings will be constructed to the LEED gold or equivalent standards.
We created the Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT), a new Crown corporation, with the potential to become a commercial Crown supplying offsets to government, industry and individuals.
The PCT will stimulate investment in B.C.-based, carbon credit-funded projects and will ensure that projects will result in a reduction of greenhouse gases.
Municipalities and school boards will be eligible for the Climate Action Revenue Incentive program – a conditional grant program that will grant back what they pay in carbon tax as long a they commit to becoming carbon neutral by signing on to the B.C. Climate Action Charter .
B.C. is the first jurisdiction in North America to legally require all government ministries, agencies and Crown corporations to be carbon neutral by 2010.
B.C. is the first jurisdiction in North America to legislate a requirement for electricity self-sufficiency by 2016, with 50 per cent of all new demand for power to be met through conservation.
B.C. is the first in Canada to legislate requirements for capture of landfill gases, zero-routine flaring in natural gas production, and capture and storage of water produced from coal gas extraction.
B.C. is the first in Canada to create a provincial Crown agency for facilitating carbon trading and carbon offsets through the Pacific Carbon Trust.
Eleven of the last 12 years were among the warmest ever since temperatures have been recorded in B.C.
Over the last century, many of B.C.’s glaciers have melted away.
We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 33 per cent from 2007 levels by 2020 and 50 per cent by 2050. We have entrenched these targets in law .
Interim targets for 2012 and 2016 have been set at six per cent and 18 per cent below 2007 levels respectively. The targets were recommended by the Climate Action Team after a public consultation process.
Conservative independent economic modelling, based on $85 per barrel oil, indicates that our current policies will take us 73 per cent of the way to our goal of reducing GHGs 33 per cent by 2020.
A revenue-neutral tax on carbon pollution that will have the effect of reducing emissions by an amount equivalent to taking almost 800,000 vehicles of the road and will fund over $1.8 billion in tax cuts and assistance for low-income families.
Legislation that sets GHG reduction targets in law, and creates a framework for Cap & Trade, and emission standards for landfills.
New vehicle emission standards to reduce emissions from cars by 30 per cent and save the average driver almost $500 a year by 2016.
A program that provides consumers with up to $4,250 in cash and credits to replace an old gas guzzler with a new fuel-efficient vehicle.
Our EnviroTruck program provides truckers up to $10,000 per vehicle and $50,000 per fleet to improve fuel efficiency by up to 20 per cent.
A new green building code to reduce energy consumption by up to 20 per cent while creating a net savings of $3.4 billion.
Our $60-million LiveSmart BC program includes a wide range of rebates, tax exemptions and other incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money.
Under the LiveSmart BC program , an average homeowner could potentially receive up to $3,250 to help them improve the efficiency of their homes.
LiveSmart BC Incentives include:
Tax rebate of up to $2,000 for fuel-efficient & hydro-electric autos.
Scrap-it incentives of up to $2,250 for replacing pre-1995 vehicles with new, more efficient ones.
Sales tax exemption for biodiesel fuel.
Sales tax exemption for kits to convert vehicles to operate on natural gas or propane.
PST exemption for non-motorized two wheel bicycles.
Tax incentives and rebates for energy efficient doors, windows, insulation, as well as energy efficient appliances, heating and lighting options.
Phase I of the Bioenergy Call for Power (announced Dec 2008) resulted in four projects selected that will generate enough electricity to power more than 52,000 homes. Those projects are expected to generate over $100M in private sector investment and create hundreds of jobs.
BC Hydro is now pursuing the phase 2 call for Bioenergy (announced March 2009).
B.C. still has significant potential for further biomass production:
In 2007, B.C. produced more than 900,000 tonnes of wood pellets, with 90 per cent exported overseas for thermal power production. B.C.’s wood pellet industry has a 16 per cent share of the EU market for bioenergy feedstock.
A study completed in April 2007 for the B.C. Grain Producers Association shows potential for a 22 million litre/year biodiesel production facility in the Peace Region using 56,000 tonnes of canola.
Parks & Land Use We believe that through consensus planning and consultation we can create certainty on our land base that balances environmental, economic, and social values. This includes creating more parks and protected areas to promote preservation values and partnerships, while ensuring parks remain places for public enjoyment.
We’ve established 57 new parks, 143 conservancies, one ecological reserve and nine protected areas since 2001; we’ve also expanded more than 50 parks and 6 ecological reserves, protecting more than 1.8 million hectares, an area almost three times the size of PEI.
We introduced legislation during the Spring 2009 legislative session that once passed will bring the total number of new B.C. parks since 2001 to 58, 2 additional ecological reserves, and a total of approximately 60 new park expansions.
Today, 14.26 per cent (more than 13.5 million hectares) of B.C. is protected, more than any other province in Canada. It’s an area equal to the size of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI combined.
We’ve made a capital investment of more than $107 million over the past five years to improve park facilities and acquire new lands.
We’ve made significant acquisitions in the past year alone, including:
$1.4 million for Gerald Island (11.65 hectares) near Nanoose Bay for future designation as a provincial marine park.
$1.45 million for a 304-hectare property adjacent to the popular Skaha Bluffs recreational rock climbing area to be included in the proposed Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park.
$1.09 million to add 38.5 hectares to Squitty Bay Provincial Park.
We’ve also established:
Gulf Island National Park and provided $25 million for parkland acquisitions in the Gulf Islands, protecting one of the province’s most treasured natural areas.
Acquired Codd Wetland through a $4.5-milion partnership with the GVRD, Pitt Meadows, The Land Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited, preserving a vital wetland habitat.
Completed a $73-million agreement to protect Burns Bog in partnership with the federal government, the GVRD, and Delta.
Created the Parks for People Strategy in 2006 to identify world class, high quality recreation, tourism and stewardship opportunities.
We negotiate land-use plans on a government-to-government basis with First Nations, with careful planning for the environment and socio-economic impacts.
We’ve finalized five consensus-based land use plans since 2001 (Central Coast, North Coast, Morice, Sea-to-Sky and Haida Gwaii), and reached strategic land use agreements with 27 First Nations.
We eliminated a backlog of 3,000 Crown land applications which accumulated under the NDP government which cost our economy $1 billion and 20,000 jobs.
Water We believe fresh water is one of B.C.’s greatest assets, and that British Columbians want investment in programs and projects that keep our water healthy and secure for today and for future generations.
We are the first government in B.C. history to implement a comprehensive drinking water protection plan to improve water management and enhance water quality testing, and invested $14 million in our plan.
We are the first government to establish a Living Rivers Initiative to protect the provinces waterways and fish habitat, including a $21-million Living River Trust . Watch a video of Premier Campbell announcing an investment in the Living Rivers Trust .
We ordered the Capital Regional District (Victoria) to begin treating its raw sewage and we committed to providing one-third of the funding toward building the sewage treatment plant.
We put time limits on water licenses so that ownership always reverts back to the public.
We increased water rental fees to ensure the public receives fair value for the use of this public resource.
We developed Living Water Smart , a plan for sustainable water stewardship. Some measures include:
Protecting sources of drinking water.
Strengthening flood protection.
Ensuring wetlands and waterways are protected and rehabilitated.
Setting strong water efficiency targets and working with all sectors to reduce consumption.
Work in partnership with industry to develop a water-efficiency labelling system for water consuming products.
Work with our Olympic partners to use the Olympic Games spotlight to engage British Columbians and support smarter water choices.
We’re investing over $200 million through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund in projects across B.C., with at least 60 per cent dedicated to assisting with “green projects” such as drinking water, treatment and distribution.
Wildlife Protection We believe in a balanced approach to protecting wildlife. Stewardship of our land-base and its biodiversity requires collaboration among governments, First Nations, industry, conservation organizations, communities and land owners.
We’ve established 57 new parks, 143 conservancies, one ecological reserve and nine protected areas since 2001; we’ve expanded more than 50 parks and six ecological reserves, protecting more than 1.8 million hectares, an area almost three times the size of PEI.
We introduced legislation this Spring that when passed will bring the total number of new B.C. parks since 2001 to 58, two additional ecological reserves, and a total 60 new park expansions.
A total 14.26 per cent (or more than 13.5 million hectares) of B.C. is protected – more than any other province in Canada, an area equal to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI combined.
In 2004, we passed amendments to allow additional protective measures in the Wildlife Act for other groups of species at risk (plants and invertebrates), and to provide protection for species residences – the first time these protections have been enshrined in law.
In 2005, we were the first province in Canada to sign a bilateral agreement on species at risk with the federal government.
In 2008, we further amended the Wildlife Act to more than double fines and penalties up to $500,000 and three years in jail for those who kill endangered species.
Our B.C. Conservation Framework , endorsed by leading scientists and conservationists, allows us to proactively manage species-at-risk and direct support to those species that need it most; $1 million funding to conservation projects province-wide last year.
We’ve completed recovery strategies for 66 species-at-risk, and recovery planning for an additional 66 species is also underway – a total of 132 species.
We have 1,207 Wildlife Habitat Areas totalling over one million hectares (2.6 million acres), protecting 41 species.
We’ve set aside 6.2 million hectares in ungulate winter range, to protect over eight different species of ungulates. This includes 2.9 million hectares of mountain caribou range—that’s 95 per cent of the caribou’s high-suitability winter habitat.
We’re implementing a $3.4-million, five-year action plan to recover B.C.’s northern spotted owl through captive-breeding and conservation of 363,000 hectares of habitat.
We’ve supported the recovery of the Vancouver Island Marmot with $1.8 million since 2001. There were about 80 of these marmots in 1998 and today there are close to 255.
We’ve provided $2.9 million to conserve green and white sturgeon in the Nechako, Fraser and Columbia Rivers.
