Fuel Regulation Failure Shows B.C. Liberal Environmental Hypocrisy
VICTORIA— New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming says a report released by two major environment organizations today concludes that the B.C. Liberals so-called low carbon fuel requirement could actually result in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and is more evidence of the B.C. Liberals environmental hypocrisy. 
Rob Fleming
“The B.C. Liberals revealed their lack of real commitment to fight climate change when they eliminated green consumer tax exemptions to facilitate their HST betrayal, when they failed to invest in transit solutions across the province and when they cut LiveSmart funding for energy conservation in half,” said Fleming. “This report is simply more evidence of the B.C. Liberals engaging in greenwashing instead of taking action that would actually help B.C. fight climate change.”
The report, written by Environmental Defence Canada and the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council, shows that fuel suppliers can actually increase carbon emissions in their fuel while complying with B.C.’s bio-fuel regulation which was supposed to decrease emissions.
“It’s not surprising that the same B.C. Liberals who are cheerleading the tar sands pipeline and supertanker traffic on our coastline introduced toothless fuel regulations that may actually increase carbon emissions,” said Fleming.
The poor rating earned by B.C.’s regulation is based on its failure to account for all the carbon emissions created by different fuel sources, including during the extraction, refinement and production of the fuel. Just last week Environment Canada reported a net increase in B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) levels in 2008 over 2007.
“B.C. will not be able to achieve its goal of a 10 per cent carbon intensity savings in gas and diesel fuels by 2020 unless the B.C. Liberals start engaging in real climate change solutions,” said Fleming.
Carole James and the New Democrats are advocating for positive environmental solutions, including a Green Fund which would see $150 million a year for climate change solutions and transit improvements in communities across the province.
