BC Climate Solutions Council told government its plan relies too much on renewable natural gas, instead of tested technologies like heat pumps.
B.C.'s climate advisory council has slammed the provincial government's plan to lower emissions from gas utilities, instead calling on it to join nearly 100 U.S. jurisdictions banning all gas hookups in new buildings.
Glacier Media requested an interview with Environment Minister George Heyman and Energy Minister Josie Osborne. Neither were made available for comment Friday. Stranded assets could cost public, says council member The council took aim at the current Greenhouse Gas Reduction Standard, which allows government to offer utilities a path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and recover their costs through rate changes.
Nancy Olewiler, a professor at Simon Fraser University's School of Public Policy and one of the council's two co-chairs, said expanding B.C.'s gas network would be both "wasteful" and "inefficient" as governments in Canada and around the world are working toward phasing out fossil fuels. B.C. and Canada falling behind on climate promises The release of the letter comes the same week a coalition of environmental groups released their second annual report card into B.C.’s progress confronting climate change. The report found B.C. is “not on track” to meet its own targets. Of 10 targets assessed in the report, B.C. failed three and made minor progress on seven, including its move to accelerate the transition to zero-emission buildings.
Overall, emissions are about 14 per cent higher in 2021 than they were in 1990, but emissions from oil and gas production are up 89 per cent in that time frame. Kathryn Harrison, a council member and professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, said the council’s recommendations were based both on what would be good for the climate and people’s wallets.
About “90 per cent of British Columbians live in climate zones where electrification of new homes would result in cost savings,” notes the council, referring to current modelling from B.C.’s Zero Carbon Step Code.
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