File photo.
The B.C. government is set to announce its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but critics say targets will be hard to hit while supporting the liquefied natural gas industry.
Premier John Horgan and Green leader Andrew Weaver are holding a media conference in Vancouver at noon to introduce a long-term climate change strategy by transitioning to a wide-ranging low carbon economy.
In October, the government said the climate plan will be designed to meet legislated targets of cutting CO2 emissions by 40 per cent by 2030, 60 per cent by 2040 and 80 per cent by 2050.
Other government announcements have already been made to retrofit buildings for energy savings.
Two weeks ago, the province announced plans to require all new vehicles purchased in B.C. be 100 per cent zero-emission by 2040.
Legislation will be introduced in the spring and Horgan said the government will increase the incentive program to make electric vehicles more affordable and double the province’s electric vehicle charging network.
But a Pembina Institute spokesperson said B.C. will have a long way to go to meet pollution targets after LNG Canada announced in Oct. it will proceed with operation plans of a $40 billion export terminal in Kitimat.
Horgan said the province would still meet its greenhouse gas reduction standards.
The institute’s Karen Tam Wu said B.C. must speed up efforts to cut carbon pollution in the building, transportation, industrial and natural gas sectors if it plans to hit its marks.
She said currently, the province emits 63 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, which would need to drop to 13 megatonnes by 2050 to meet the province’s goals.
With files from the Canadian Press
CHEK News
