September 25, 2013 - 8:15 PM
VICTORIA - An Environment Canada report to the United Nations indicates British Columbia is currently meeting its legislated targets to cut greenhouse gas pollution.
However environmental leaders say that won't last much longer even if the province sets up a smokescreen to hide the air pollution created by proposed liquefied natural gas operations.
Environment Canada's submission in April to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change shows B.C.'s emissions have declined by almost six per cent since 2007 when the province passed its law to cut such emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.
But B.C. climate scientist Mark Jaccard, who helped the Liberal government develop its climate targets law, says he's given up on Canada's GHG reduction plans and is currently working with the California Energy Commission which is advising President Barack Obama on cutting emissions.
Green Party MLA Andrew Weaver says B.C.'s decision last year to declare the natural gas that will fuel proposed LNG plants as clean energy will not pass international scrutiny.
Weaver and Jaccard are calling for continued independent scrutiny of B.C. GHG emissions numbers.
Environment Minister Mary Polak says in a statement that B.C. is continuing to pursue its goal of cutting GHG emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.
News from © The Canadian Press , 2013