The western province of British Columbia (B.C.) released a “Climate Leadership Plan” which environmentalists have panned. A government-appointed team spent six months studying climate change mitigation but many of its key recommendations were rejected.
Team member ‘so disgusted’
“Pathetic and cowardly” was how one team member characterized the government’s new plan in a Facebook post. Tzeporah Berman posted that she was “so disgusted” by it.
Although B.C. is the only province to have a carbon tax, environmentalists were disappointed that the tax was not increased. It has been frozen since 2011.
Reductions called ‘far too late’
The plan does not provide for greenhouse gas emission reductions until at least 2030, which prompted Josha MacNab of the Pembina Institute to call the plan a failure. “British Columbia has legislated emission reduction targets for 2050. If we’re not seeing a decline until 2030 that’s far too late to be doing that work and it really makes it much more expensive and costly.”
ListenB.C. will hurt Canada’s efforts, says environmentalist
MacNab says B.C.’s failure to do more to reduce emissions hurts Canada’s overall effort to meet its 2030 reduction goals made at the Paris climate summit.
She is also disappointed that the plan did not offer enough to transition the province’s economy to meet the global demand for low-carbon goods and services.
Minister says plan is just a beginning
Some environmentalists suggest that the province pulled back on its climate change plan because it wants to develop the liquefied natural gas sector which is emissions intensive. Environment Minister Mary Polak denied that was the case and vigorously defended the plan saying it was just the first step in a more comprehensive plan to be developed after meetings with other provinces and the federal government.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.