Short-term targets key to success of B.C.’s new energy plan

VANCOUVER - B.C.’s new energy plan - expected today - will determine whether the provincial government has a credible strategy on global warming. Meaningful short-term action will be the key factor for success, say the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute.

In its Speech from the Throne two weeks ago, the B.C. government announced a set of measures and a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

"We are relieved that the premier now recognizes the urgency and intends to act on climate change," says Ian Bruce, climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. "But if the government really thinks we can’t procrastinate, why is the first target set for 2020, 13 years away?"

A report earlier this month by leading world scientists confirmed that the planet is heating up; climate change is indisputable, and humans are responsible. In B.C., more than 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions will be affected by the energy plan through transportation, energy efficiency standards for buildings, and oil and gas development.

"We are pleased that the B.C. government wants to lead the province toward being carbon neutral, but we are concerned that their 2020 target falls short of Kyoto," says Matt Horne, a technical and policy advisor at the Pembina Institute. "British Columbians will be looking to the details in the province’s Energy Plan to know whether the reductions are significant."

"We are pleased that conventional coal projects will not be permitted in B.C., and we hope other jurisdictions will follow suit," says Mr. Horne. "However, to have success, every sector of the economy needs to aggressively reduce emissions."

For the necessary reductions in carbon emissions, the plan needs:

• Short-term targets with meaningful actions for all sectors of the economy, with the B.C. government accountable for ensuring compliance.
• To redirect the billions of dollars slated for freeway expansion and the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge into proven solutions that reduce both congestion and pollution, such as public transit and rail. Without this redirection, gains from proposed vehicle tailpipe regulation will be negated.
• Equitable responsibility placed on the largest polluters. Oil and gas production accounts for about 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the Throne Speech, the oil and gas sector would need to reduce emissions by 19 per cent by 2016, but the rest of the economy would need to reduce emissions by 25 per cent.
• To take responsibility for the global warming pollution produced by the B.C. coal and natural gas that is burned in other jurisdictions. "The government’s commitment that 90 per cent of B.C.’s electricity must come from clean, renewable sources will be much more meaningful if we begin taking responsibility for exporting global warming," says Mr. Horne.
• To phase out subsidies to the oil and gas sector and instead promote clean, renewable energy technologies. (The recent B.C. budget further increased subsidies to the oil and gas industry by $74 million, a 40 per cent increase over last year’s budgeted subsidy level.)

"The science is clear. We need immediate action to reduce global warming. Any delay will mean greater consequences for our economy, our communities, and our health. We look forward to an Energy Plan that will bring on real reductions now," says Mr. Bruce.

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Matt Horne, Technical and Policy Advisor
Pembina Institute
Office: 604.874.8558, ext. 223
Cell: 778.855.6762

Ian Bruce, Climate change specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
Cell: 604.306.5095

Justin Smallbridge, communication specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
Office: 604.732.4228, ext. 237