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Your B.C. Government

Carbon-Neutral Government

Your B.C. Government is putting the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets on the continent into law, and is setting an example by being the first jurisdiction in North America make government carbon-neutral by 2010.

What your B.C. Government is doing for Carbon-Neutral Government:

  • In 2007, your B.C. Government passed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act, which legally requires all public-sector organizations to be carbon–neutral beginning 2010.
  • Carbon neutrality is being achieved by determining government’s total greenhouse gas emissions, taking action to reduce those emissions and by purchasing offsets ensuring that net emissions are zero.
  • The carbon-neutral public sector initiative applies to all provincial public operations, including core government (ministry) operations, school districts, health authorities, post-secondary institutions and Crown agencies.
  • Wherever possible, all new provincially-owned vehicles will be hybrids or hybrid-equivalent.
  • With over 625 hybrid vehicles in the B.C. government fleet, including cars, vans, SUVs and pickups, the Province of B.C. has one of the largest hybrid fleets in North America.
  • The B.C. Government and BC Hydro are working to significantly increase energy conservation and expand the use of alternative energy options across the 6,500 provincial public sector buildings in British Columbia, including Crown corporations, education and health-care facilities, social housing and other government operations.
  • All emissions associated with government travel are now tracked and offset; use of tools such as video and teleconferencing are being expanded to reduce travel.
  • All travel offsets are being paid into the Pacific Carbon Trust, a new Crown corporation that is investing in B.C.-based offset projects.
  • In July 2009, the Pacific Carbon Trust delivered its first 34,370 tonnes of emission offsets to government through its investments in new energy technologies.
  • The Pacific Carbon Trust has the goal to purchase over 700,000 tonnes of offsets annually by 2011. This level of activity supports a low-carbon economy for B.C. and helps the Province meet its goal of achieving carbon neutrality.
  • To date, the PCT has agreed to acquire offsets from 15 facilities in B.C., including more than 300,000 emission offsets over five years from Offsetters Clean Technology Inc. and 11,000 emission offsets over the next three years under an agreement with Sempa Power Systems Ltd.
  • In its first year of operations, the PCT has fostered the development of a quality offset industry, creating a cleaner, greener British Columbia.
  • All new government buildings will be constructed to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold or equivalent environmental and energy-efficiency standard.