British Columbia energy and climate policy

In the fall of 2002, Premier Gordon Campbell released his government’s energy plan for B.C. Unfortunately, the plan fails to outline how the province will reduce the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

Instead, the Campbell government is calling for expansion of conventional sources of energy with new coal and natural gas fired plants, as well as increasing oil and gas production. That means more greenhouse gas emissions, more air pollution and increased health impacts. (The problem with coal)

The David Suzuki Foundation is calling on the provincial government to make clean, renewable energy and efficiency the cornerstones of its energy policy – key elements to protect the climate, bring energy price stability, cut air pollution and stimulate new jobs.

B.C. has a responsibility to act with the international community to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, Canada has committed to reducing annual emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. Ottawa’s ratification of the agreement in 2002 will require significant cuts in B.C.’s emissions.

B.C. emission trends

In 1995, the province committed to stabilize its emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000. With no firm strategy in place, B.C. missed this target and emissions grew from 52.7 million tonnes in 1990 to approximately 65.9 million tonnes by 2000 – an increase of nearly 26 per cent.

The trend is set to continue. BC Hydro is currently planning to build two new gas-fired electrical plants on Vancouver Island, to be supplied by a new pipeline across the Georgia Strait. Ironically, at the same time, the B.C. government is opposing the proposed Sumas 2 power plant just south of Abbotsford in the U.S. because of the air pollution from its use of natural gas.

B.C. is also encouraging coal-fired electrical plants while other parts of the world are striving to phase out coal.

Learn more:

Upstream oil and gas: The "upstream" oil and gas sector is one of the fastest growing sources of emissions in British Columbia.

British Columbia at the Crossroads: Read the David Suzuki Foundation's submission to the BC Energy Task Force.

Climate Crisis, Energy Solutions for B.C.: This report sets out ideas and practical solutions to reduce energy consumption and slow climate change.

The problem with coal: Burning coal to produce electricity has serious impacts on the environment and human health.

Natural gas: British Columbia is expanding its natural gas exploration, production and processing. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions from this industry are rapidly increasing.