Metro staff concerned about B.C.’s climate plan

B.C.’s commitment to a new climate leadership plan is being questioned by Metro Vancouver staff, who say the provincial initiative doesn’t adequately reflect the region’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.

In a report going to Metro Vancouver’s board Friday, staff say they are concerned the province’s decision not to issue a draft plan as promised for additional comment is watering down the concerns of local governments and the public. Instead, the province has said it will issue a final plan later this spring.

“In the absence of a detailed plan, it is difficult for staff to evaluate how well the (provincial plan) will support regional climate action priorities,” the Metro report said, noting it also would hurt the development of an integrated regional climate action strategy.

Premier Christy Clark announced in May 2015 plans to update the Climate Leadership Plan, a broad policy first introduced in 2008 by her predecessor, Gordon Campbell, as part of legislated targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Clark appointed a “climate leadership team” of business, environmental, First Nations and academic leaders to help shape the proposed new plan, and set a two-stage goal of broad public consultation.

In a November 2015 report, the climate leadership team said little progress has been made over the last four years and it would now be difficult to achieve the original goal for 2020, which was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 33 per cent below 2007 levels.

Matt Horne, associate B.C. director for the Pembina Institute and a member of the climate leadership team, said: “To me, it is a missed opportunity to have a more concrete conversation about the climate leadership plan.”

Instead of the draft plan the province has issued a “consultation guide” that summarizes the broad directions given to it by the team, as well as feedback from the public.