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2008
Comments on the Recommendations of the B.C. Climate Action Team (October 2008)
The final report of the B.C. Climate Action Team (CAT), made public in August 2008, contains 29 recommendations for further emission reduction measures, and two recommendations regarding the 2012 and 2016 provincial GHG emission reduction targets. Modelling for the CAT indicates these combined measures will reduce annual BC’s annual GHG emissions by 8 million tonnes per year (as measured in CO2e), sufficient to close the gap between the government’s previously announced emission reduction measures and the 2020 target.
A broad group of environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) active on energy, climate and wilderness protection issues in British Columbia, developed a consensus response to the CAT report in the two documents posted below.
The first submission focuses on CAT recommendation #27 and its implications for forest and wilderness lands. It calls on the province to create a new multi-stakeholder process to address the role of forests, non-forest carbon reserves (e.g., grasslands, peatlands, and wetlands) and forestry for both climate change mitigation and adaptation purposes.
The second submission by environmental groups supports the final recommendations of the BC Climate Action Team and identifies several areas where more aggressive climate change action can and should be taken by the province, including addressing several current inconsistencies in government policy.
BC ENGO Comments on CAT Report- Forest
BC ENGO Comments on CAT Report - Main
Western Climate Initiative Backgrounder
In the absence of federal leadership in the fight against global warming, four Canadian provinces and seven U.S. states have teamed up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their own. British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, along with California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Utah are working together to create a major North American cap-and-trade system.
Calling itself the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), the provinces and states are developing a system to cap and reduce greenhouse gases from large industrial sources such as the electricity sector, industrial processes and waste management. This background document from the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute explains the significance of the WCI and its next steps.
Download the backgrounder:
WCI Background (109kb PDF)
Submission to the B.C. Climate Action Team on potential greenhouse gas reduction measures (February 2008)
The B.C. Climate Action Team (CAT) was established in November 2007 to identify additional solutions to reduce global warming - beyond those already committed to by the provincial government - that would allow B.C. to achieve its 2020 emission reduction target of 33% below 2007 levels, and to develop interim greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2012 and 2016.
This submission to the Climate Action Team is a compilation of innovative solutions proposed by environmental organizations from across B.C. Included are a number of measures which recommend that the government abandon policies that result in increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Groups that participated in the development of the document (including the David Suzuki Foundation) do not necessarily endorse all of the compiled measures.
Potential Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures and Enabling Measures – Report
Potential Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures and Enabling Measures – Appendices
Carbon Taxes: Key Issues, Key Questions
Based on available economic analysis, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute believe that for Canada to do its part in reducing greenhouse gas pollution, we need a price on emissions of at least $30/tonne immediately, at least $50/tonne by 2015 and at least $75/tonne by 2020. We believe this price should be applied broadly in the Canadian economy, but that it can be done either through a carbon tax, a cap-and-trade system, or a combination of the two. Where cap-and-trade is used, we support the auctioning of all allowances, because when governments give allowances away for free, they are not applying the polluter pays principle.
Carbon Taxes: Key Issues, Key Questions
Why a carbon tax and/or cap-and-trade system is needed to reduce global warming emissions
Carbon Tax Backgrounder: B.C. Budget 2008
The fundamental problem fuelling B.C.’s contribution to global warming is that the atmosphere is treated as a free waste dump for harmful, heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions.
The majority of B.C.’s emissions are associated with the burning, extraction and production of fossil fuels (for example coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas), which also have other significant environmental, social and human health costs, such as air and water pollution, as well as adverse impacts on biodiversity and habitat.
Carbon Tax Backgrounder: B.C. Budget 2008
2007
Canada in Bali: A Backgrounder on the 2007 UN Climate Negotiations
This joint Pembina Institute and David Suzuki Foundation document covers the key issues to be negotiated in Bali at the 2007 United Nations' Climate Change Conference, summarizes Canada’s position, and assesses the Canadian government’s credibility on climate issues ahead of this crucial meeting.
Canada in Bali: A Backgrounder on the 2007 UN Climate Negotiations
Opportunity for Ontario to provide leadership on climate change
At the start of a new mandate, Premier McGuinty now has the opportunity to make Ontario a leader in Canada and the world in addressing climate change, while at the same time ensuring clean air, jobs and economic opportunities for citizens of Ontario. Ambitious and bold initiatives are needed now to put Ontario on the path to a low carbon future.
Opportunity for Ontario to provide leadership on climate change
Climate protection proposals for the 2008 British Columbia budget
This report submitted to British Columbia’s budget consultation process recommends that the 2008 provincial budget include major new investments in public transit and a levy on harmful carbon pollution.
Suzuki Foundation's climate protection proposals for the 2008 BC budget
Changes required to British Columbia's Standing Offer Contract
As currently proposed, BC Hydro’s “Standing Offer Proposal Rules” will not achieve the goals of the Small Power Standing Offer program as set out in the 2007 BC Energy Plan. It would, however, further delay the development of many renewable energy opportunities in British Columbia. Rather than helping
to make British Columbia a leader in the Canadian renewable energy sector, the proposed rules will instead reduce our province’s competitiveness versus other jurisdictions such as Ontario.
Changes required to BC’s Standing Offer Contract
Picking up the Slack: The Provinces’ Potential to Act on Climate Change
In the past year Canadian provinces and territories have significantly increased the level of activity—policy development, communications, etc.—surrounding climate change. The approaches vary considerably in quality and all have weaknesses, but what is clear is that provincial governments feel that they have to accept responsibility for this issue. Part of the reason could be the absence of leadership in Ottawa. But a big hole remains: the regulation of real, overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from various economic sectors, most notably from Canadian industry.
Picking up the Slack: The Provinces’ Potential to Act on Climate Change
Intensity-Based Targets: Not the Solution to Climate Change
This David Suzuki Foundation briefing note contains important information about intensity-based targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Our analysis concludes that intensity-based calculations are a kind of creative accounting; they allow greenhouse gas emissions to increase -- the opposite of the reductions urgently needed to tackle global warming. Get the details on intensity-based targets, why they won't work, and the damage they can do to the environment and to Canada's international reputation.
Intensity-based targets: Not the solution to climate change
2006
Canada and the Future of Global Climate Policy: The Importance of Canadian Action Now
The Climate Action Network Canada released this backgrounder on Jan. 29, 2007. The four page document notes that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report highlights the urgent need for Canada to produce and immediately start implementing a credible and comprehensive greenhouse-gas reduction plan.
Canada and the Future of Global Climate Policy
Briefing document on British Columbia's electricity generation future
This two-page briefing note contains the David Suzuki Foundation's key policy recommendations for the province to achieve B.C.’s electricity generation potential of 100 per cent non-polluting, renewable energy.
B.C.'s electricity generation future
Key elements of a provincial climate change plan
A three-page outline of the basic elements that any provincial or territorial climate change plan needs in order to be credible, complete and effective.
Climate change plan backgrounder
Briefing document on the proposed twinning of the Port Mann Bridge
This seven-page document outlines the problems with British Columbia's proposal to twin the Port Mann Bridge and widen Highway 1. Written by Suzuki Foundation climate change specialists, the paper also outlines alternative solutions to ease Greater Vancouver's traffic congestion.
News release| Full report
Comments Regarding the Ontario Power Authority's Supply Mix Advice Report
This Suzuki Foundation brief paper looks at the Ontario Power Authority's advice on the province's electricity future, highlighting the need for renewable energy, conservation and efficiency.
News release | Full report
Who's meeting their Kyoto targets?
This brief report from May 2006 notes that most developed countries are on track to meeting their Kyoto Protocol targets while some countries have already surpassed their Kyoto targets. A few countries, like Canada, have much work to do between now and 2012 to meet their target. Canada's target is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels.
Full report
2005
Briefing Note: Canada's Climate Change Plan
This brief report from the David Suzuki Foundation analyzes the federal government's Kyoto implementation plan, released April 2005.
News release | Briefing note
Briefing Note: Access to Information documents on Canada's progress on Kyoto
The David Suzuki Foundation obtained documents from the federal government outlining Canada's progress on implementing Kyoto. The full documents, obtained using Access to Information and Privacy legislation, can be downloaded below. A short briefing note explains the key findings and conclusions of the documents.
Briefing note | Access to Information documents on Kyoto
Climate Briefing Notes
