British Columbia has reached its first greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 6% below 2007 levels by 2012 as set out in the Province’s Climate Action Plan.

“We take great pride in this important milestone,” said Environment Minister Mary Polak. “When we first launched our Climate Action Plan there was a lot of scepticism that we could achieve this first interim target, but we did. We know our plan is working, because GHG emissions are down while our GDP and population are up. Yes, we have more to do to bring our emissions down further, and we will do what it takes to reach our long-term goals. The Premier has made it clear that British Columbia will continue to be an international leader and driver of innovation in climate action.”

Climate Action in British Columbia: 2014 Progress Report includes discussion of the 2012 interim target and how it was achieved, adaptation actions and practical outcomes of climate action for British Columbians.

Government also released the British Columbia Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for 2012, which provides the technical basis for assessing progress toward targets.

In addition, the B.C. government was carbon neutral in 2013 for the fourth year in a row, as confirmed in the Carbon Neutral Government: Year in Review 2013 report.

“Climate leadership starts with government taking care of its own house,” said Polak. “We are still the only state or province in North America to be carbon neutral - proof positive that climate action remains a top priority for our government.”

Government also released the Industrial Facility Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report Summaries for 2013, which report data for all industrial facilities in B.C. emitting more than 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.

Learn More:

To view the 2014 Progress Report: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=9DF88AF901A14DE59BF3CF4B8A6B17EB 

To view the British Columbia Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for 2012: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=50B908BE85E0446EB6D3C434B4C8C106 

To view the Carbon Neutral Government: Year in Review 2013 report: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=B4071C74EEC04BF5B131A5B0573F4A64 

To view the Industrial Facility Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report Summaries for 2013: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=14C1FA7186124D1C8CABA452C9DFCA56

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. achieves greenhouse gas emissions target

Climate Action in British Columbia: 2014 Progress Report

B.C. has reached its interim greenhouse gas target of a 6% reduction below 2007 levels by 2012.

This is a major milestone that marks the success of the 2008 Climate Action Plan and represents the first step in a longer journey toward achieving 2020 and 2050 targets.

That B.C.’s emissions have remained relatively stable during the economic recovery rather than resuming their prior growth path is a major success. It indicates that the recession alone was not the cause of B.C.’s emissions reductions, and that policy, behaviour change and efficiency are having an impact.

This result was achieved through:

• A range of leading policies and actions to both reduce and store greenhouse gases;
• Some emissions reductions resulting from events outside B.C.’s control, such as the global economic downturn; and
• Investment in forest management emissions reduction activities that improve our forests and create offsets that are counted toward targets.

Carbon Neutral Government: Year in Review 2013

Carbon neutrality is one of many strategies for encouraging emissions reductions and taking leadership on climate action. It makes particular sense in a government leadership context, wherein a governmental entity wishes to take full responsibility for its emissions. To become carbon neutral, an organization, business or government measures its carbon footprint, reduces that footprint as much as practicable each fiscal year, offsets any emissions that cannot be reduced and reports on greenhouse gas emissions as required by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act.

In the British Columbia context, all hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, Crown corporations, and ministries and agencies have been carbon neutral for their operations since 2010 for their paper, fleet and building emissions. Ministries and agencies are also carbon neutral for their business travel.

In B.C., Carbon Neutral Government is complemented by a number of other emission reduction activities and policies, as outlined in the 2014 Progress Report, including B.C.’s highly successful carbon tax, the local government Climate Action Charter and industrial reporting regulation, among other climate actions.

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834