City of Powell River and 77 other signatories are endorsing a call to push the provincial government for clear targets for energy performance of new buildings.
“Buildings have a significant role to play in curbing emissions,” said Karen Tam Wu, Pembina Institute’s buildings and urban solutions program director.
In BC, homes and buildings account for nearly a third of energy use and 12 per cent of carbon pollution.
“Not only are buildings an opportunity to curb carbon emissions and energy use, we believe implementing an ambitious plan on climate that includes a clear vision for the building sector, we can continue to grow our economy, encourage innovation, develop our skills and knowledge domestically, and create the opportunity to export our skills and products,” said Tam Wu. “This will take a bold vision and commitment from the government.”
Meanwhile, BC’s carbon tax will remain frozen at $30 per tonne until 2018 when it could be increased and the provincial government may introduce new emissions caps for industry, transportation and buildings.
That’s if the province adopts recommendations from the provincial Climate Leadership Team (CLT), a group tasked with updating BC’s 2008 climate action plan.
Premier Christy Clark appointed members from BC business, first nations, academia and the environmental sector to the team in May.
“[It] has now delivered a thoughtful report full of innovative approaches that respects the need to protect industry competitiveness and family affordability,” stated Mary Polak, BC environment minister, in a media release. “We will now work diligently with all stakeholders and all British Columbians to build our new climate plan.”
The group recommendations, released Friday, November 27, address the development of fiscal policy to protect the province’s economic competitiveness, its current carbon pricing and actions to reduce emissions.
The recommendations include setting a legislated target for 2030 of 40 per cent reduction from 2007 levels, increasing the carbon tax by $10 per tonne starting in 2018 when the current freeze expires and expanding carbon tax coverage in 2021 to include all accurately measured sources of carbon pollution.
The group is also recommending the government develop fiscal policy to protect emissions-intensive, trade-exposed sectors from future carbon-tax increases.
The recommendations also call for the development of reductions specific to industry, transportation and building sectors. The group would like to see improvements in the BC Building Code to make new construction more energy efficient over the next decade, a 2030 target for low-carbon fuels and a zero-emission vehicle standard in line with California and Quebec that would allow BC to move to electric cars.
It also recommends that industry commit to 100 per cent clean electricity by 2025 and cut methane emissions from the natural gas sector by 40 per cent over the next five years.
“The central challenge we wrestled with was how to strengthen BC’s climate policies and also maintain the economy’s competitiveness,” stated Matt Horne, BC associate regional director for Pembina and member of the team, in a media release.
Public consultations are planned for January and the completed climate plan is expected in the spring.
