On The Road To Emission Reductions: Policy Perspectives On BC’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard

As a major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the transportation sector has been identified by policy makers as a sector in which significant emission reductions can be achieved. In British Columbia (BC), the transportation sector accounted for approximately 37.1% of the province's total GHG emissions in 2011.  One of the policy instruments designed to reduce GHG emissions is the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), which is intended to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels measured on a life-cycle basis.  The LCFS also requires a reduction in the carbon intensity of life cycle emissions, which is intended to spur improvements in fuel production and refining efficiency, while promoting a broader range of fuel alternatives and innovation in vehicle technology to accommodate the growth in fuel options.