|
Media Release/Communiqué
For Immediate Release: February 19, 2008
Media Contact: Tom Hackney (250) 744-2720
Budget 2008 Meets Key Tests
on Climate Commitments
February 19, 2008, Victoria, BC - Major BC environmental
groups today welcomed the 2008 budget that will put BC firmly
on the path to achieve bold commitments set out in the 2007
Throne Speech. Of the key areas in which environmentalists
were looking for clear action (see below), three were given
strong grades. The remaining climate-related area--cross-budget
consistency-- remains a concern, with ongoing subsidies to
the carbon-emitting oil and gas sector and massive capital
investments in new highways. Also of concern is the lack of
new funds for biodiversity preservation and management.
Carbon Pricing - "A"
The carbon tax is designed to make BC a North American leader
in using carbon pricing to encourage innovation, climate-friendly
behaviour change and a transition to a low-carbon economy.
Government chose to make the tax fully revenue-neutral, recycling
the revenues through lump sum payments and tax breaks for
individuals, with a focus on low-income families and tax breaks
to businesses.
Public Infrastructure Investments - "A"
To help kick-start the $14 billion Provincial Transit Plan,
scheduled to be completed by 2020, $370 million was allocated
over a four year period, including $93 million over the next
year. Also included was money for energy retrofits on public
buildings and green port initiatives.
Incentives For Citizens and Businesses - "A"
The budget contains significant incentives to help British
Columbians make changes to decrease their carbon emissions,
including energy retrofit funding and tax exemptions for energy
efficient vehicles and appliances. It also provides BC businesses
with strong encouragement to invest in innovation to be leaders
in the low-carbon economy of the future.
Cross-Budget Consistency - "F"
There is a major disconnect between BC's climate plan and
continued financial support for carbon-intensive resource
industries. The highly profitable fossil fuel industry emits
approximately 20% of BC's GHG emissions. Yet this budget provides
large subsidies to expand carbon-intensive activities that
could undermine BC's efforts to be a world leader on tackling
global warming. Steps in the wrong direction include a 24%
increase in oil and gas subsidies in 08/09-to $327 million
-as well as continued funding and promotion of coastal oil
and gas drilling, and a $621 million larger allocation for
highway expansion than for transit.
Biodiversity - "D"
There are almost no new monies earmarked for the protection
of species at risk and their critical habitat. Although there
is now political direction to establish a marine protected
areas system for the Pacific coast, there are no new monies
to achieve this.
- 30 -
Contact:
BC Sustainable Energy Association - Tom Hackney (250-744-2720)
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation - Kris Etches
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Chloe O'Loughlin (604-512-0428)
Dogwood Initiative - Will Horter (604-418-1672)
Georgia Strait Alliance - Christianne Wilhelmson (604-862-7579)
Living Oceans Society - Oonagh O'Connor (250-230-6580)
Pembina Institute - Matt Horne (778-235-1476)
Sierra Club BC - Lisa Matthaus (250-888-6267)
West Coast Environmental Law - Greg Gowe (604-220-2520)
Wilderness Committee - Andrea Reimer (604-719-3920)
|
