In November 2007, the British Columbia (B.C.) Legislature
enacted initial legislation respecting the reduction of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Targets Act, which came into force on January 1,
2008, establishes targets of a 33% reduction below 2007 GHG
emission levels by 2020, and an 80% reduction below 2007
emission levels by 2050. It also requires that realistic,
economically viable interim targets for 2012 and 2016 be
established by the Minister of Environment by the end of 2008,
and that the provincial government itself become carbon neutral
by 2010.
The B.C. government has also announced that additional
legislation will be introduced this year to regulate emissions
from different sectors. The proposed legislation would
establish a cap-and-trade system for large emitters, which
would include firm caps on the allowable emissions from large
sources, and provide for
