• The B.C. government accepts the recommendations included in the Office of the Auditor
  General's report, "An Audit of Carbon Neutral Government", but rejects its conclusion
  that government has not met its objective of achieving a carbon neutral public sector.
• British Columbia is recognized as a world leader in climate action and the B.C.
  government has been carbon neutral since 2010 - it is committed to continuing to be so
  in the future. Carbon neutrality is about leadership - putting government's house in
  order as it asks businesses, communities and individuals to take action.
• A key accomplishment of B.C.'s carbon neutral government program has been focusing
  attention on the costs of energy and working with public‐sector organizations to reduce
  those costs through investments in energy efficiency. Since 2008, the B.C. government
  has committed $75 million in this regard and expects annual energy cost savings of $12
  million and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as a result.
• B.C.'s carbon offset system is based on international standards. Every offset in Pacific
  Carbon Trust's portfolio has been twice audited by third‐party experts, has passed those
  audits and has fully met the requirements of B.C.'s Emission Offsets Regulation
• The audit was limited in scope - only covering B.C.'s first year (2010) as a carbon neutral
  government and two of the first offsets purchased by Pacific Carbon Trust - and does
  not reflect the changes made to B.C.'s offset system as the market has matured.
• The B.C. government is actively moving forward on the Office of the Auditor General's
  recommendations, and has already accomplished significant improvements in several
  areas during the past year while the audit was underway:
• Developed a diversified offset portfolio of 32 projects in all sectors of the
  economy and all regions of B.C.
• Completed extensive engagements across the public sector, with offset
  professionals, and with academics and experts to improve B.C.'s carbon neutral
  government program.
• Eliminated reporting costs to the entire public sector.
• Implemented a new Carbon Neutral Capital Program which has already provided
  $10 million dollars over two years in new capital funding to the kindergarten‐to‐
  Grade 12 education sector.
• Created a Carbon Offset Advisory Panel to advise Pacific Carbon Trust on the
  development of its offset portfolio.
• Provided greater transparency by publicly releasing the purchase price of every
  offset in Pacific Carbon Trust's portfolio.
• Initiated a review to determine if the financial surplus currently generated from
  offset purchases should be used to lower public‐sector costs or invested to
  further reduce emissions.
  

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953‐3834