February 18, 2008

Provincial Politics

British Columbia government’s throne speech encourages construction industry to tackle climate change

Richard Gilbert

staff writer

The 2008 throne speech identified measures the B.C. government is taking to encourage the construction sector to meet new environmental targets and take on climate change.

In last year’s throne speech, the Liberal government announced an aggressive environmental plan.

This year’s throne speech delivered on Feb.12 by B.C.’s first aboriginal Lieutenant-Governor, Steven Point, also highlighted measures to meet the government’s goal of conserving energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act now requires us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent from 2007 levels by 2020, and by 80 per cent below 2007 levels by 2050,” Point said.

“The Climate Action Team is working to identify the most credible, aggressive and economically viable greenhouse gas reduction targets possible for 2012 and 2016. Legislated targets for both years will be put in place by Dec. 31.”

The throne speech lacked specific details about how the government plans to meet these legislated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

However, Point said that these details would come soon after the budget is announced on Feb. 19.

“A climate action plan to advance those targets will be released shortly after the budget. It will be annually updated and founded on personal responsibility, sound science and economic reality,” he explained.

“It will be driven by one simple truth: it is people who cause global warming and it is people who must act to stop it.”

The government is asking the construction industry to do its part in meeting B.C.’s legislated greenhouse gas reduction targets and energy conservation goals.

A number of notable measures will impact the construction sector.

The government plan requires all new public buildings to be constructed to LEED Gold or equivalent standards, while existing buildings are to be retrofitted to make them more energy efficient. The throne speech also stated that the government plans to fast-track green developments that are in the environmental approval stage.

“A lot of these measures have already been undertaken by progressive builders and a whole cadre of energy conscious green building architects and firms,” said Richard Bushey, executive director of the Building Officials Association of B.C. “They have done a lot of innovative buildings. The government is saying it worked, people liked it and let’s do more.”

This type of legislation will require more education and training in the construction industry.

“On the design and development side, the industry is OK, but it’s weak on the building side,” Bushey explained. “People have to be taught how to do the installation properly. For example, there is a lot to learn in the proper installation of solar panels and wind screens. These are specialized industries. More training is needed for these skills to become commonplace.”

The speech also outlined the government’s infrastructure priorities including a new northern energy corridor from Prince Rupert to Prince George and the next phase of the Prince Rupert port development.

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