B.C. opts not to hike carbon tax in new climate plan, won’t adjust target dates
RICHMOND, B.C. — The British Columbia government is maintaining a freeze on its carbon tax and refusing to budge on a timeline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a new climate plan that environmental groups describe as a missed opportunity.
Premier Christy Clark said Friday that the government needs to keep the province economically competitive to protect jobs in the battle against climate change as she highlighted 21 measures the province is taking to cut emissions.
“A climate plan is not just about carbon pricing,” she told a news conference. “As the World Bank noted, carbon pricing is just one instrument in a portfolio of approaches to fight climate change. And we cannot get where we need to be in fighting climate change in British Columbia with a carbon tax alone.”
The Climate Leadership Plan says the steps the province is taking will help B.C. meet its target to reduce emissions by 80 per cent of 2007 levels by 2050.