The BC Government is currently undertaking an independent review of CleanBC, the suite of policies intended to reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030 (only five years away). However, the Province’s own Climate Change Accountability Report acknowledges that “BC’s current policy landscape does not put us on track to meet our 2030 targets.”  

Indeed, the current economic situation places the government between a rock and a hard place, as it attempts to balance the need for economic growth with its lofty carbon reduction targets. And while per capita emissions have declined substantially, actual emissions have remained largely level for the past two decades. 

The Province has implemented a number of different policies over the years in an attempt to meet its carbon reduction targets. Many have involved rebates or other financial incentives, which have not been consistently applied over time. Changes in rebates to programs such as electric vehicle purchase or conversion of home heating systems from fossil fuels to electric heat pumps create uncertainty when households are planning their annual budgets.

The Need for a Holistic Approach

What seems to be missing is a more holistic approach to carbon reduction, looking at the way we design our cities and industries to encourage societal change. Only with this kind of approach, coupled with a focus on new technology, can we meet CleanBC’s goals. 

For example, adopting a “complete communities” mindset in urban planning – whereby residents can access most of their daily needs by walking or cycling – would dramatically reduce the need to use internal combustion autos for such tasks. Supported by frequent, reliable transit and networks of efficient, safe bike lanes, residents could be convinced that they can reduce the number of vehicles in their household. Increased walking and cycling will also result in a healthier population, reducing health care costs and the emotional toll of diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle.  

As part of a CleanBC reboot, an extensive engagement / communication strategy will need to be developed, extolling the virtues of a holistic approach. This strategy could be effective in resisting targeted negative movements aimed at specific policies, such as the carbon tax.  

In order to be effective, a holistic approach would require support from major corporations in the province, NGOs, and prominent influencers. However, if these influencers and corporations are reluctant to sign on, the provincial government must be willing to look inward and determine if a change of trajectory is necessary. 

Good urban planning, combined with a robust program to electrify heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and domestic hot water systems in existing homes, would go a long way to reduce carbon emissions in our cities and towns. But that doesn’t mean that we should abandon innovative new ways to become fully self-sufficient in electrical generation. 

Disruptive Technologies and Electrical Generation

There are disruptive technologies currently available, or on the horizon, that can change the narrative of electrical generation in the province. For instance, much of the Southern Interior would be ideal for solar generation. I recently read that China has installed 464 gigawatts of solar capacity in the past 12 months alone. For scale, BC Hydro’s entire installed generation capacity is just over 12 gigawatts.  

Similarly, the need to ship diesel by barge to BC’s isolated coastal communities could be eliminated by installing tidal turbine generators and battery storage systems at the many narrow surge channels present along our rugged coastline.  

The ultimate disruptive technology could come from a Richmond-based company called General Fusion, which is developing a viable technology known as magnetized target fusion. While the company is currently seeking more capital to further its current reactor prototype, this technology potentially represents the “holy grail” of energy development, promising limitless electricity with little or no environmental impact.  

The combination of a holistic approach to planning our urban communities, plus the use of new technologies to generate electricity for remote communities and industrial development, could allow BC to balance economic growth and carbon emission reduction. The rebooted CleanBC program should reflect this approach to encourage an all-hands-on-deck mindset to reach the goal of healthier communities and reduced carbon emissions.  

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