News Release
November 27, 2007

B.C. Enacts Climate Action Legislation

VICTORIA - British Columbia has taken a major step forward in the fight against global warming with the passage of Bill 44, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act, said Environment Minister Barry Penner.

"This is the first legislation of its kind in Canada, with aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets," said Penner, who is MLA for Chilliwack-Kent. "The law also makes our commitment to a carbon neutral government legally binding."

The BC Legislature completed debate on Bill 44 on Monday and it passed final reading. According to the new law, British Columbia's greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) must be reduced by at least 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020. It also requires that realistic, economically viable interim targets for 2012 and 2016 be set by the end of 2008, and further establishes an emission reduction target of 80 per cent below 2007 levels by 2050. The government will also be required to publish a report every two years outlining the progress made towards reaching the emissions reduction targets.

The act requires the provincial government, including provincial ministries and agencies, schools, colleges, universities, health authorities and Crown corporations, to become carbon neutral by 2010 and to make public a report every year detailing actions taken towards carbon neutrality.

 "We are the first government in North America to require all public sector organizations to publicly report on their emissions levels, on the actions they have taken to reduce these levels, and their plans for continuing to minimize emissions," said Penner, who introduced the legislation. "Our government will lead by example, first by reducing our emissions as much as possible and then offsetting the remainder."

The carbon neutral requirements will apply starting in 2008, with respect to greenhouse gas emissions produced by government business travel by the Legislative Assembly and by provincial government ministries and agencies.  Travel emissions in the last three months of 2007 will also be included, as announced by the Premier at the UBCM convention.

In 2010, the requirements will be expanded to apply to all emissions from government operations, as well as the operations of schools, colleges, universities, health authorities, Crown corporations and other public sector organizations.

To help ensure that GHG emissions reduction targets are met, next year the B.C. government will bring forward additional legislation to regulate emissions from different sectors. Legislation will include:

• Setting up a cap-and-trade system for large emitters, which will put in place firm "caps" or limits on the quantity of emissions allowable from large sources, while providing for participation in emissions trading systems.

• Adopting California tailpipe standards for new vehicles, which will require car manufacturers' vehicle fleets to be progressively more efficient and clean.

• Introducing a low-carbon fuel standard requiring distributors of fuels such as gasoline and diesel to reduce the carbon content of these fuels by 10 per cent by 2020.

• Providing authority for the regulation and capture of landfill gases. 

"Both the public and private sectors are investing billions of dollars to provide cleaner transportation options and to generate  renewable, zero emission electricity," said Penner. "There are technological innovations being developed in BC that we can market to world, as other jurisdictions join the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our goal is to position BC businesses and workers to take advantage of those opportunities."