Published yesterday, the Corporate Knights third bi-annual Green Provincial Report Card evaluates environmental performance using a series of 35 indicators grouped into seven categories: air and climate, water, nature, transportation, waste, energy and buildings, and innovation.

"The finding of the Corporate Knights report is further validation that our climate-action policies and initiatives are leading the way in this country," said Environment Minister Terry Lake. "As we continue to grow our green economy, we can expect more good news on the positive impacts our efforts are having on the environment and on green-job creation."

The findings also validate the B.C. government's Growing Green Jobs report. It states that "B.C. is known worldwide as a leader on green economic growth and the green jobs that come with it. By implementing policies that support sustainability in industry and innovation in the clean technology sector, we have created an environment where forward-thinking solutions can flourish."

B.C. has put in place strong legislation concerning green policies, such as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act, the Carbon Tax Act and the Clean Energy Act.

B.C. will be reporting on its provincial emissions and progress towards its target shortly.

Quick Facts from the 2012 Report:

• B.C. is the clear leader in the category of innovation with an overall score of 93 per cent.
• It achieved a very high grade for both the amount of venture capital its green technology businesses are attracting and the number of CleanTech companies per capita that call the province home.
• With 160 CleanTech companies in total at the end of 2011, B.C. also has one of the highest numbers of companies per capita.
• Between 2002 and 2011, venture capitalists have invested over $138 per capita in B.C.'s green startups; only Ontario comes close to this with an average investment of $80.50 per capita.
• Overall winner in the energy and buildings category.
• B.C. received 89 per cent of its electricity generation from a combination of hydroelectric, wind, solar and other renewables, and had a total of 9,820 grant applications for the ecoENERGY home retrofit program last year (higher than the national average).
• B.C. has the most overall protected areas, followed closely by Alberta.

Learn More:

Read the full report at: www.corporateknights.com/report/green-provincial-report-card-2012

Learn more about B.C.'s Green Economy at: www.bcge.ca/BCs_Green_Economy.pdf

Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Ministry of Environment
250 356-0202
Dan.Gilmore@gov.bc.ca