5 June 2025

by Tom Hackney and Bill Andrews

The recently-released 2024 Climate Change Accountability Report shows that BC is making progress but is not on track to meet the 2030 BC GHG emissions reduction targets.

Concerted action has kept BC GHG emissions roughly level between 2007 and 2022 despite 25% population growth and 41% economic growth over that time period. BC GHG emissions have been reduced on a per capita basis and on a per dollar of GDP basis. But the total remains roughly flat over the 2007-2022 period. On a per capita basis, BC’s GHG emissions in 2022 were better than Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador; but worse than Ontario, Quebec and PEI.

With continued hard work, BC’s projected GHG emissions at 2030 would be 20% below 2007 emissions. A downward inflection between now and 2030 would be very welcome. However, the current projection amounts to only half of the targeted reduction of 40% by 2030.

Transportation is the worst sector for BC GHG emissions from 2007 to 2022. Emissions from the Transportation sector are up 18%, but emissions are down 6% for Buildings and Communities, 11% for Other Industry and 11% for Oil and Gas.

We commend Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, for recommitting to climate action in these uncertain times.

In our view, the BC government must do more to reduce BC GHG emissions from the Transportation sector. Priority areas are: more public transit, more light-duty EVs, more zero-emission medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, and more biofuel blending.

It should be noted that “BC GHG emissions” is a legally defined term that does not include the GHG emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels that have been exported from BC and used outside of BC.