British Columbia Leading Canada's Green Transition, COVID-19 Brings Economic Opportunity
Clean Energy Canada brings us a story that demonstrates the importance of climate action to British Columbians. According to a poll in July by Clean Energy Canada, 79 percent of British Columbians agree that COVID-19 has brought about economic change that presents opportunities to mitigate climate change.
B.C. also set new 2025 emissions targets earlier this month. George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy said in a press conference “Across the province, people are working every day to tackle climate change and make our economy cleaner and stronger. It’s clear we still have much more to do in order to meet our CleanBC targets – and I won’t be satisfied until we see a significant and steady decline in emissions. To make sure we stay on track to build a cleaner and stronger future, we’re putting in place a new near-term emission target that is both ambitious and achievable. This is another key step on the path to reaching our climate targets for 2030 and beyond.’
The new emission target requires greenhouse gases in B.C. to be 16% below 2007 levels by 2025. and also provides a benchmark on the road to B.C.’s legislated emission targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050 of 40%, 60% and 80% below 2007 levels, respectively. The Province will also set sectoral targets, which are yet to be established, but shoud be finalised before March 31, 2021, and will develop legislation to help B.C. reach net zero by 2050 targets.
Source: B.C. 2020 Climate Change Accountability Report
The 2020 Climate Change Accountability Report provides new estimates for provincial emissions for the next four reporting years (2019-22) and modelling of the estimated impacts of CleanBC actions by 2030, as well as data on progress made through CleanBC in sectors like transportation, industry, buildings and communities and the public service.
Merran Smith, executive director at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the above report:
“B.C. has emerged as not only a Canadian leader but a world leader when it comes to climate action. It was the first government in North American to price pollution, the first to legislate a ban on the sale of gas-powered vehicles, and it was among the first to make its emissions targets legally binding.
“B.C.’s climate leadership hinges on a new, rigorous system of climate reporting and accountability, which means celebrating our successes while also acknowledging—and acting—when more needs to be done. Climate policies are only as successful as the results they accomplish.
“While the B.C. government’s new goal of reducing emissions by 16% below 2007 levels by 2025 is a commendable start, it’s also a reminder of how far the province has to go to reach its 2030 goal of 40%. Emissions have been heading in the wrong direction, and we certainly hope we don’t have to say that again next year. We look forward to seeing the province’s updated plan, due next year, for how it will reach these targets.
“Polling shows that the vast majority of British Columbians want to see B.C. put fighting climate change at the centre of COVID recovery plans. And with a Biden presidency kicking off the new year and game-changing clean stimulus plans from countries like Germany, the U.K., and South Korea, it’s clear that B.C. must compete on climate if it’s to compete economically into the future. The province’s climate plan, CleanBC, provides an excellent platform on which to do so. Now is the time to increase its ambition—and there is no time to waste.”
Electric Vehicles
B.C. has had a Zero-Emission Vehicles Act since 2019, which sets phased-in annual targets and other compliance requirements, ensuring automakers increase the number of EVs that they sell in B.C. to meet consumer demand. Automakers will be required to achieve 10% provincial ZEV sales by 2025, 30% by 2030, and 100% by 2040 (for light-duty vehicles).
Source: B.C. Climate Change Accountability Report
From the above report:
The province is backing Battery Electric Vehicles with clear and simple goals including:
making electric cars more affordable
shifting to renewable fuels
investing in charging and hydrogen refuelling stations, active transportation and public transit”
B.C., together with a range of partners, has made good progress in setting a path for lower emissions, particularly for passenger vehicles. ¡ In 2019, electric light-duty vehicle sales more than doubled compared to the previous year to over 17,000, making up nearly 9% of all light-duty vehicles sold in B.C. This brings us close to our 2025 target of 10% ZEV sales for new vehicles five years early.
To help expand availability of ZEVs, B.C. also completed regulations that mandate 100% of new lightduty vehicles sold to be ZEVs by 2040. ZEV compliance requirements start for the model year 2020.
Supported by the CleanBC Public Charger and Hydrogen Fuelling Programs, there are currently more than 2,000 public Level 2 charging stations, 190 public fast charging sites,6 and three public hydrogen fuelling stations. Since 2018, the number of fast charging sites across B.C. has increased by 55%. Another 1,900 charging stations were installed in homes and workplaces with the Go Electric Charger Rebates. Work is underway to continue expanding these networks.
To help reduce emissions from heavier vehicles, B.C. launched a Go Electric Commercial Vehicle Pilot Program. The government increased funding for its Go Electric Specialty-Use Vehicle Incentive in Budget 2020, which is available for eligible medium- and heavy-duty transport trucks, delivery vans, electric cargo bicycles, passenger buses, and low-speed utility trucks.
Together with the BC Trucking Association, the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Efficiency Program completed its first year, exceeded training goals and providing over $1 million for equipment.