We’re taking the next big step on our continent-leading CleanBC plan and introducing new measures, so that we can meet our emissions reduction targets for 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Climate change is impacting more of the things we love
B.C.’s forests, waters and farmlands have been a source of beauty, food and economic opportunity for generations – and we are fighting to protect them.
We're planting hundreds of millions of trees every year and creating more parks to harness nature’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
We’re protecting salmon habitat and securing our freshwater resources, while also working with industry partners to clean up plastic debris from our beautiful coastline and ocean.
We’re working with farmers and growers to make sure the soil and crops that we all depend on continue to feed us well into the future.
We know we need to go beyond these efforts – that's where the Roadmap comes in. The Roadmap demonstrates that at the core of our approach to climate change is a foundational commitment to protecting and preserving our environment now and for future generations.
People in B.C. know that delay is not an option
We have accomplished a lot with our CleanBC plan. But the scale of the climate emergency we are living through demands that we act with even greater urgency. That’s why we are scaling up measures that are working and introducing new ideas so we can meet our ambitious climate targets.
Here are some of the actions outlined in our CleanBC: Roadmap to 2030 plan
Photo courtesy of Pretivm, Pretium Resources Inc.
Making mining greener
These heavy-duty mining vehicles are powered by electricity, which has significantly reduced the amount of climate pollution generated by the Brucejack mine in northern B.C.
Electric ferries are the wave of the future
The Island Class is a hybrid diesel-electric ferry. Once electric charging technology can be installed at BC Ferries’ terminals, these new ships will be configured to operate using only clean, renewable hydroelectric energy.
Cleaner deliveries by truck or bike
The CleanBC Go Electric Specialty Use Vehicle Incentive program helps businesses buy electric delivery trucks, passenger shuttles and many other vehicles. Through the program, Purolator has added a small fleet of battery-electric delivery trucks at its facility in Richmond and also operates a number of electric cargo bikes (e-cargo bikes).
Making the switch to heat pumps
Everyone living in Hartley Bay, a Gitga’at community on the north coast, now have energy efficient heat pumps in their homes – keeping them cool in the summer and warm in the winter, all while lowering their heating bills and shrinking the community’s carbon footprint. Heat pumps also provide air filtration, reducing risks from wildfire smoke during summer months. The switch to heat pumps was supported by the CleanBC Indigenous Community Heat Pump Incentive, which helps make clean choices for residential and community buildings more affordable and accessible.
Photo courtesy of B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Micro-hydropower provides clean energy and jobs for Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation
The Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation is partnering with B.C. and Canada through the CleanBC Communities Fund to upgrade its micro-hydropower plant. The Nation, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, is isolated from the BC Hydro electricity grid and has produced its own renewable energy for 40 years. Upgrades to the aging plant will ensure a reliable supply of clean energy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support opportunities for jobs and growth, including the construction of more homes in the area.
Seaweed aquaculture reduces climate pollution
Indigenous peoples on the B.C. coast have harvested seaweeds for thousands of years, providing a versatile food that’s rich in protein, calcium and iron. Today, several First Nations are growing seaweed commercially in partnership with B.C.’s emerging seaweed aquaculture sector. It’s estimated seaweeds absorb carbon pollution from the atmosphere three times as much as forests. They also provide critical habitat for sea creatures, and don’t require land, freshwater or fertilizer to grow. Seaweed harvesting has the potential to be another tool to fight climate change here at home, while contributing to a stronger economy for everyone.
Reducing pollution from cement production
B.C.’s cement industry has been working since 2018 to reduce the climate pollution it produces by using more low-carbon fuels, diverting waste from landfills and looking into using carbon-capture technology. LaFarge is currently partnering with B.C. clean tech company Svante to pilot new technology at its Richmond facility, creating the potential for the cleanest cement plant anywhere in Canada.
B.C.’s hydrogen sector is fueling green jobs
B.C.’s thriving hydrogen and fuel cell sector is the largest in the country, making it a critical part of our low-carbon economy. cellcentric, a new joint venture between the world’s two largest truck manufacturers, Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group, has chosen to strengthen its innovative hydrogen fuel cell business in Burnaby. cellcentric plans to develop and produce hydrogen fuel cell systems to commercialize CO2-neutral transportation and will significantly grow its local workforce in highly specialized, well-paid positions in the years to come. Along with providing solutions to reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize areas such as heavy-duty trucking, the sector is creating good jobs for people and attracting new investment.
Cleaning up plastic and debris
We worked with communities, coastal tourism operators and Indigenous Nations to remove hundreds of thousands of kilograms of debris – including styrofoam, plastic bottles, nets, rope, and abandoned boats and tires – from thousands of kilometres of B.C.’s shoreline. Much of this waste was recyclable. This created employment for hundreds of people, including youth whose job prospects were hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wood waste turned into bio-fuels
Arbios Biotech is set to construct a bio-refinery in the Prince George area to convert wood waste and municipal garbage into bio-crude. The bio-crude will be refined into low-carbon gasoline and diesel fuel.
Photo courtesy of Carbon Engineering Ltd.
Removing carbon from the air
B.C. companies like Carbon Engineering are pioneering and testing negative-emission technologies that can directly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground.
This technology will be increasingly critical as the world looks for solutions to the climate crisis.