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2011 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 39th Parliament

FIRST READING

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

MR. BOB SIMPSON

BILL M 201 – 2011

CARBON NEUTRAL GOVERNMENT REPEAL ACT, 2011

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act

This Act amends the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act by repealing the requirement for public sector organizations (PSOs) to be carbon neutral. This change also removes the legal requirement for PSOs to purchase carbon offsets in order to meet carbon neutrality. Repealing this will allow for PSOs to make investments in energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas reductions, without imposing a punitive cost on operating budgets. This bill includes a requirement for PSOs to produce annual carbon reduction plans and reports.

Section 1 of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act, S.B.C. 2007, c. 42, is amended by repealing the definition of " carbon neutral" .

Part 1 is amended by adding:

4.1

(1) Every calendar year, each public sector organization must prepare, and make public no later than the end of June of the following calendar year, a carbon reduction action report in accordance with this section.

(2) The carbon reduction action reports must include the following:

(

a) a description of the actions taken by the public sector organization in the relevant calendar year to minimize its PSO greenhouse gas emissions; and

(

b) its plans to continue minimizing those emissions.

Part 2 is repealed.

Section 12 is amended by repealing items (g), (h), (i), (

j) and (k).

Explanatory Note

This Act amends the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act by repealing the requirement for public sector organizations (PSOs) to be carbon neutral. This change also removes the legal requirement for PSOs to purchase carbon offsets in order to meet carbon neutrality. Repealing this will allow for PSOs to make investments in energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas reductions, without imposing a punitive cost on operating budgets. This bill includes a requirement for PSOs to produce annual carbon reduction plans and reports.

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