Two British Columbia leaders have received top honours for their work on building the CleanBC plan to fight climate change and put the province on the path to a more sustainable future. George Heyman, B.C.’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and Andrew Weaver, leader of the Green Party of B.C., were honoured at the Clean50 awards in Toronto, Ontario on October 3, 2019.
“British Columbians expect leaders across sectors to take action on climate change and be accountable for the results. We have responded with our CleanBC plan,” Heyman said. “The collaboration with Dr. Weaver, his team and my colleagues across government has resulted in a comprehensive plan with clear targets to reduce emissions while building a strong economy with healthier communities and creating new opportunities for people.”
Heyman and Weaver were also recognized as part of the Clean16 awards presented to the top Clean50 recipients in clean tech, renewable energy, manufacturing and transportation, sustainable finance, and other categories.
“Over the last two years, my team and I have been working with Minister Heyman to design CleanBC, our economic plan to build a thriving, climate-resilient society. It has been the hallmark of our minority government and will continue to be my top priority as we ensure it is fully implemented to reach our 2030 targets,” Weaver said. “CleanBC is an important starting point and our ambitions must continue to rise. It is time we reimagined the climate crisis not solely as an environmental problem, but an incredible opportunity for innovation and the advancement of our society.”
CleanBC plan
CleanBC was developed in collaboration with the Green Party caucus and supports the commitment in the Confidence and Supply Agreement to implement climate action to meet B.C.’s emission targets.
The plan is designed to build a thriving, climate-responsible and climate-resilient economy through incentives and goals that include the following:
• transitioning to all zero-emission vehicles by 2040
• demanding greater energy efficiency in both new and existing buildings
• investing significantly in training workers for a low-carbon economy.
The ultimate goal is to net 40% reduction in B.C.’s 2007 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The province has also introduced the Business Corporations Amendment Act, which provides a legal framework for businesses committed to pursuing a triple bottom line to incorporate as Benefit Companies. It is the only law of its kind in Canada.
“British Columbians want to see action on protecting our clean land, air and water as we grow an economy that will make life better for people today and into the future,” said Premier John Horgan. “I want to congratulate Minister Heyman and Dr. Weaver for their work on CleanBC that puts B.C. on a better path to a more affordable, safe and sustainable future.”
Clean50 awards
The Clean50 awards are presented every year by Delta Management Group, an executive search firm for professionals working in the environmental sector. The award winners were selected from a field of 700 plus nominees and competed in 16 different categories representing several fields in Canada.
To learn more about the CleanBC plan, visit here
