In May 2015, BC Premier Christy Clark appointed a Climate Leadership Team (consisting of leaders from B.C. businesses, communities, First Nations, academia and the environmental sector) to provide advice and recommendations to government for its new Climate Leadership Plan.
Following stakeholder consultations, the Climate Leadership Team prepared a report that was released by the BC government on November 27, 2015, in advance of the COP 21 meeting in Paris. The team’s report consists of 32 recommendations addressing a number of areas including GHG reduction targets, carbon tax design, transportation, buildings, communities, offsets, and First Nations.
Some of the key recommendations from the Climate Leadership Team include:
- setting a legislated target for 2030 of 40% GHG reduction from 2007 levels, and reaffirming B.C.’s commitment to the 2050 target of an 80% GHG reduction from 2007 levels;
- establishing the following sector-specific GHG reduction goals (below 2015) for 2030: (a) 30 per cent for the transportation sector totalling 6.3 MT of CO2; (b) 30 per cent for the industrial sector totalling 8.4 MT of CO2; and (c) 50 per cent for the built environment totalling 3.4 MT of CO2;
- lowering the provincial sales tax (PST) from 7 per cent to 6 per cent, supported by incremental carbon tax;
- increasing the carbon tax by $10 per year commencing in July 2018 while (a) maintaining the current tax reductions achieved through the existing carbon tax that are broad based, provide support to vulnerable populations, or promote GHG reductions; (b) adjust the current low income and rural and northern tax credits; and (c) establish targeted and transparent mechanisms for emission-intensive, trade-exposed sectors until such time that carbon pricing and regulatory policy equivalency with other jurisdictions is achieved;
- expanding the coverage of the current carbon tax to apply to all GHG emission sources in BC after five years, starting with measurable GHG emissions covered by the current reporting regulation;
- using incremental revenues generated from the increase in the carbon tax to (a) eliminate PST on all electricity rates; (b) establish mechanisms to facilitate investments in technology and innovation that reduce GHG emissions; and (c) establish mechanisms to provide local governments with funding for projects that will result in demonstrable GHG emission reductions;
- amending the Clean Energy Act to increase the target for clean energy on the integrated grid from 93 per cent to 100 per cent by 2025;
- establishing a strategy and funding to phase out diesel generation in remote communities and replace it with low-GHG electricity service by 2025;
- developing a low-carbon transportation strategy to enable the transportation sector to emit 30 per cent fewer GHG emissions by 2030 which include Zero Emission Vehicle targets, increases to the scope and coverage of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and the establishment of a revenue neutral PST for all vehicles based on grams of Co2 per kilometre;
- undertaking a review and update of the Climate Action Charter to align provincial and community goals;
- creating a waste-to-resource strategy that reduces GHG emissions associated with food waste, organic waste, and landfills;
- working with First Nation communities to transition communities that are currently dependent on diesel generation to low-GHG electricity service; and
- undertaking a review of the current offset policy in BC.
The BC government is now reviewing the Climate Leadership Team’s recommendations. It will commence the public consultation process in January 2016, with a view to releasing a final Climate Leadership Plan in March 2016.