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For Immediate release
VANCOUVER —Quebec environment minister Claude Béchard met with environmental groups today to outline Quebec’s work in the fight against climate change, and his government’s intentions to meet Kyoto commitments.
“If a handful of Canadian provinces and American states can work together to achieve ambitious goals, imagine what we can accomplish if we all join forces in Canada,” said Minister Claude Béchard.
He explained Quebec’s climate change plan to a dozen environmental groups at a meeting at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The plan takes on responsibility and acknowledges that much of the work to reduce heat-trapping emissions has to be done at the provincial level. The plan commits to meeting the Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing greenhouses gases.
“We are pleased to learn of Quebec’s leadership in addressing climate change,” said Ian Bruce, climate change specialist at the David Suzuki Foundation. “Quebec’s action on climate change can serve as a readymade solution for other provinces — like B.C. — to follow.”
The plan calls for Quebec to cut its emissions 1.5 per cent below 1990 levels. Some of the measures outlined in the document include: creating a new building code by 2008 to improve energy efficiency by up to 25 per cent; regulating vehicle fuel efficiency to California standards; and generating funds for public transit and projects to cut greenhouse gases by creating a levy on bulk sales of oil which works like a tax to discourage carbon pollution.
British Columbia could benefit by adopting Quebec’s advances. The Minister also met with B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner to discuss the plan.
“We are asking the B.C. government to follow Quebec’s responsible approach and set clear, concrete targets to cut greenhouse gases to reach Kyoto targets,” said Karen Campbell, staff counsel at the Pembina Institute. “And we would like to see B.C. apply more of the balanced, common-sense actions that make Quebec’s plan a model for addressing climate change.”
The effects of climate change are taking a toll in B.C. Warmer winter temperatures have allowed the mountain pine beetle infestation to grow into an epidemic, devastating B.C. forests. This past summer, record high temperatures were blamed for large salmon deaths in the Fraser River and dangerously low water levels in communities like tourist-friendly Tofino.
"The B.C. government has an exceptional opportunity to fight climate change by developing clean, renewable energy technologies that can generate new jobs and a vibrant economy for the 21st century,” said Peter Ronald of the BC Sustainable Energy Association.
B.C. environmental organizations are calling on the B.C. government to adopt a new climate change plan that sets clear, concrete targets to cut greenhouse gases to reach Kyoto targets. See attached backgrounder for a list of concrete actions adopted by the province of Quebec could be applied in B.C.
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Download a media backgrounder (PDF, 356kb)
For more information, contact:
Pascal D’astous, press secretary
Environment Minster Claude Béchard
Cabinet du ministre du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs
Tel: (418) 521-3911
Justin Smallbridge, communications specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
Tel: (604)-732-4228, ext. 237
Ian Bruce
Climate Change Specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
Cell: (604) 306-5095
Karen Campbell
Pembina Institute
Cell: (604) 928-2258
Peter Ronald
Provincial Coordinator
BC Sustainable Energy Association
Cell: (250) 888-3456
Lisa Matthaus
Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter
Cell: (250) 888-6267
Amanda Carr
Campaigner
Greenpeace
Cell: (604) 839-8760