Climate Action Team moves province one step closer to a low carbon future

The recommendations of British Columbia’s Climate Action Team (CAT) are a positive step forward in reducing the province’s greenhouse gas emissions, says a coalition of environmental and sustainability organizations. The groups applaud the findings of the provincial advisory group and are encouraging Premier Gordon Campbell to implement these recommendations as soon as possible.

“The Climate Action Team’s recommendations are an important agreement on how to achieve a low carbon future here in British Columbia,” said Nicholas Heap of the David Suzuki Foundation. “We call on all parties to adopt these recommendations as the basis for climate action in B.C.”

In particular, the groups praised the Climate Action Team’s recommendation that the carbon tax continue to be a key plank in the province’s climate change strategy. The Climate Action Team endorsed the government’s approach of reducing taxes on income and shifting them to pollution, and increasing the tax shift over time.

“We were encouraged to see the diverse membership of the Climate Action Team – including leaders from industry, local government, environmental organizations, and academia – offer their strong support for B.C.’s carbon tax,” said Matt Horne of the Pembina Institute.

Additionally, the environmental groups supported the Climate Action Team’s recommendation that the government involve stakeholders in a full assessment of the opportunities for forests, land-use, and other bio-products in terms of greenhouse gas benefits, biodiversity values, and other co-benefits.

“We are very pleased that the CAT recognizes the importance of biodiversity and the carbon storage value of forests,” said Merran Smith of ForestEthics. “The Climate Action Team’s recommendation provides an excellent opportunity for the government to convene a dialogue on the future of our forests – not just the future of forestry.”

Notwithstanding the many positive steps, the coalition did note the Climate Action Team did not address some existing contradictions between the government’s energy and transportation policies and its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing oil and gas production and large-scale highway expansion projects will make it more difficult – and perhaps impossible – to achieve the province’s legislated greenhouse gas reduction targets.