VICTORIA – British Columbia has appointed a team of environmental and industry advisers to help the New Democrat government set and meet legislated pollution reduction targets.
Environment Minister George Heyman says he plans to introduce climate legislation next spring that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 levels over the next 13 years.
He says the legislation will also include targets to cut emissions from buildings and homes by 50 per cent, and 30 per cent from industry and transportation.
Former premier Gordon Campbell introduced legislation nine years ago to reduce the emissions by 33 per cent by 2020, but the former Liberal government of Christy Clark said it won’t hit that target.
Heyman says the new advisory committee includes representatives from industry, environmental, Indigenous, rural and academic communities who will meet regularly with the government about reaching its climate targets.
B.C. is set to increase its carbon tax by $5 per tonne next April, raising the tax to $35 per tonne.
