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.
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The following organizations have endorsed this release:
- BC Sustainable Energy Association
- BC Spaces for Nature
- BEST
- David Suzuki Foundation
- Dogwood Initiative
- ForestEthics
- Light House Sustainable Building Centre
- Pembina Institute
- Sierra Club BC
- Smart Growth BC
- West Coast Environmental Law
Background Documents
The two-part review of the Climate Action Team's recommendations includes
- an overview assessment of the recommendations and comments on most of the individual recommendations.
- an analysis of the role of forests, land-use, and other bio-products in British Columbia's climate change strategy.
Both sections of the review can be found here:
www.davidsuzuki.org/Publications/Climate_Change_Reports/Briefing_Notes.asp.
Many of the same environmental groups submitted policy suggestions to the Climate Action Team in January and February 2008. Those recommendations are available here:
www.davidsuzuki.org/Publications/Climate_Change_Reports/Briefing_Notes.asp.
The Climate Action Team's recommendations are available here:
www.climateactionsecretariat.gov.bc.ca/cat/report.html.
For more information, contact:
Matt Horne
Acting Director, B.C. Energy Solutions
Pembina Institute
Cell: 778-235-1476
Nicholas Heap
Climate Change Policy Analyst
David Suzuki Foundation
Cell: 778-991-4392
Merran Smith
Director, Climate Program
ForestEthics
Office: 604-687-3620
Cell: 604-816-5636
