Response to the Government of B.C.’s Clean Growth Intentions Papers

Published by: David Suzuki Foundation

Climate solutions British Columbia, climate change, decarbonization, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, policy and regulation, fossil fuels, sustainable transportation, methane pollution

The Government of British Columbia’s Clean Growth Intentions Papers describe several important policies that, if implemented, could play a role in achieving meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and moving B.C. to the forefront of climate action in Canada. These intentions papers are part of a broader clean growth strategy that combines the climate plan, energy roadmap and an economic strategy. It will be critical to ensure these various initiatives work in an integrated manner to shift the province to a prosperous, low-carbon future.

The summer of 2018 made the world come face to face with the impacts of climate change, with heatwaves, fires and other extreme weather. Here in British Columbia, as we drafted this document, forest fires burned throughout the province, with little rain in the forecast and an air quality index of 10+ in Metro Vancouver and many other cities, indicating hazardous conditions for the population at large. We are confronted with the reality that greenhouse gas levels are already too high and our ambition has been too low. It is time to ramp up our ambition.

This response to the B.C. Climate Intentions Papers focuses on the transportation and industry papers, in addition to offering several recommendations on broader policies that are needed to create a stronger long-term framework for climate action in the province.