Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman will be working with global leaders on ways to cut carbon pollution while growing a sustainable economy at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP23 in Bonn, Germany.

“Tackling climate change is key to building a strong, sustainable economy that benefits everyone,” said Heyman. “Climate change is a global problem that demands global solutions. It’s important that we work together with people from all over the world to develop strategies to cut carbon pollution, while making life better for people.”

Heyman will speak at numerous engagements while he attends the conference from Nov. 12–16, 2017. Topics he will be discussing include Indigenous involvement with climate change, the challenge of ocean acidification, transportation and B.C.’s role in the Pacific Coast Collaborative.

The conference provides a rare chance to connect with world leaders to share what is being done to reduce climate change at home and to learn what other nations are doing to combat one of the greatest challenges facing our planet.

Quick facts:

• B.C. recently appointed a Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council to help provide a road map to building a strong sustainable economy that benefits everyone, while meeting B.C.'s obligation to address climate change.
• B.C. is planning on legislating an interim target for 2030 of a 40% overall reduction in carbon emissions.
• The Province is increasing the carbon tax by $5 per tonne per year, beginning April 1, 2018. This increase will be paired with new climate-action rebate cheques to low- and middle-income families, which will see most B.C. families receiving more back from the rebate than they pay in new carbon taxes. The Province will also work with emissions intensive industries to maintain their competitiveness, while reducing emissions.

Learn More:

For details about COP23: http://newsroom.unfccc.int/cop-23-bonn/

Details on B.C.’s new Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council can be found here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017ENV0057-001797

For more information about climate change in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change