The provincial government has released its much-anticipated new climate plan, one that was expected to build off a plan now almost 10 years old, but reaction in Burnaby predictably falls along party lines.
Last Friday, the province announced details of the Climate Leadership Plan, which vows to reduce net annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25 million tonnes below current forecasts by 2050.
The province also said emissions will be reduced further, putting B.C. on course to achieve its 2050 target of an 80 per cent reduction in emissions from 2007 levels.
The government has also decided to freeze the carbon tax at $30 per tonne.
But critics have blasted the plan for not going far enough to fight climate change, including members of the province’s own climate leadership team.
The team made 32 recommendations for the province to consider in the plan.
Burnaby-Edmonds NDP MLA Raj Chouhan suggested the plan was a “cop-out” adding Premier Christy Clark ignored most of the recommendations that would have put B.C. in a leadership position on the issue.
“She isn’t really thinking about protecting our environment and climate,” he told the NOW.
The climate leadership team recommended a 2030 target to reduce emissions across three sectors: built environment, industry and transportation by 40 per cent, compared to 2007.
Chouhan said he was disappointed by the plan, arguing it will do less to address the issue than the previous plan put together by then-premier Gordon Campbell.
He said the province should have listened to its own climate leadership team, adding when it comes to keeping the carbon tax at the same rate, the Liberals had no difficulty bringing in a 15 per cent foreign buyer housing tax.
In a release about the climate plan, the provincial government said it supports increasing the carbon tax once other jurisdictions, considering a similar tax, catch up.
Chouhan said his party is working on a climate plan of its own that would be released to the public in a few months.
Burnaby North Liberal MLA Richard Lee defended the plan, noting it is a step toward meeting B.C.’s targets for 2050.
He said the plan keeps B.C. in a leadership role, being the only province with a carbon tax. Lee also said there are opportunities to review the plan to ensure the province is meeting targets.
“I think we’re doing our part,” Lee said.
The lone Burnaby Liberal MLA also noted other aspects of the plan being touted, including making electric cars more affordable and the creation of 66,000 new jobs in the green technology industry.
“I think these are good jobs, apart from earning a living, it’s improving our environment at the same time,” Lee said.
