The B.C. Green Party announced its climate action and clean economy platform today in Nanaimo, promising that if elected, it will set a path to make British Columbia carbon-neutral by 2045.
Sonia Furstenau made the platform announcement Friday at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
Furstenau said the NDP can害羞草研究所檛 consider themselves climate leaders while expanding the fossil fuel industry and said her party wants greater urgency around the climate crisis and more assurance that B.C. will meet climate goals.
害羞草研究所淲e can害羞草研究所檛 afford to play accounting games,害羞草研究所� Furstenau said. 害羞草研究所淲e need an honest plan that will reach our goals.害羞草研究所�
She said in addition to carbon-neutrality by 2045, the Greens would have a 害羞草研究所渞obust strategy害羞草研究所� to close the gap by 2030.
Furstenau said her party would introduce a $1-billion strategic investment fund to support business innovation that aligns with the province害羞草研究所檚 climate goals. She also mentioned 害羞草研究所減redictable, yearly increases害羞草研究所� to the carbon tax.
A press release from the B.C. Greens notes that if elected, the party would immediately end oil and gas subsidies and 害羞草研究所渞edirect that money to spurring innovation, to help grow businesses in B.C. and help us meet our climate commitments.害羞草研究所�
The platform also points to a 害羞草研究所渂iofuels strategy and clean hydrogen road map.害羞草研究所� The Greens want 100 per cent of non-commercial vehicles to be zero-emissions by 2035 and would prioritize investments in electrifying transit systems.
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
害羞草研究所淭he investments we make to recover from COVID-19 can establish a world-leading zero-emission transportation system,害羞草研究所� said Furstenau. 害羞草研究所淥ur plan would electrify our transit systems, including partnering with the federal government to support B.C. Transit and Translink害羞草研究所檚 efforts to electrify their bus fleets 害羞草研究所� and undertake a comprehensive build out of public charging infrastructure on all highways in the province.害羞草研究所�
Furstenau also promised that the Greens would lower the cost of electric vehicles so 害羞草研究所渙rdinary British Columbians can afford them.害羞草研究所� She said the Greens would increase zero-emission vehicle accessibility by removing the provincial sales tax on used electric cars.
Furstenau said the Greens would implement 害羞草研究所渁 just transition program for workers in the oil and gas sector, and other industries in transition,害羞草研究所� working to lead them to 害羞草研究所済uaranteed害羞草研究所� jobs in the clean economy.
害羞草研究所淪econd, we would establish a clean jobs program to help us recover from COVID-19 and get people back to work immediately,害羞草研究所� said Furstenau. 害羞草研究所淭he program would create thousands of jobs, enhancing B.C.害羞草研究所檚 natural climate solutions, tree planting, conservation, remediating environmental liabilities, as well as climate adaptation and improving community resilience to climate change.害羞草研究所�
Furstenau was joined at Friday害羞草研究所檚 announcement by candidates Lia Versaevel of Nanaimo, Rob Lyon of Parksville-Qualicum and Evan Jolicoeur of Mid-Island Pacific Rim.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
