B.C.'s Low Carbon Advantage

What is B.C.'s Low Carbon Advantage?

B.C.’s Low Carbon Advantage plan builds on the work of the Stronger Tomorrow, Starting Today plan by identifying how we can “build back better” and get our economy into recovery mode by maximizing our export industry’s low carbon advantage globally and here at home.

The international marketplace is increasingly competitive and may become more so as economies around the world try to emerge from the economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be a steep climb back.

Along with a return to social normalcy, job creation and growth, there are also discussions about how to “build back better” through a green recovery. But at the same time, the world’s need and demand for natural resources and low carbon energy will continue to increase in order to furnish the things we need for our health, families and quality of life.

Recovery can be done in a way that allows for B.C. to be positioned globally as both a low carbon producer of high quality natural resource and energy products and one that supports job growth, innovation and recovery here at home.

B.C.’s industrial export sector, enabled by our important transportation sector, will be fundamental to our economic recovery. It is a sector that is active in all regions of our province, producing the goods needed for British Columbians as well as markets around the world.

B.C.'s Low Carbon Advantage

This plan lays out the potential of our low carbon advantage — one that could be the envy of the world. But we need the Government of B.C. to use its levers to ensure B.C.’s low carbon exporters can become more cost-competitive as world demand for commodities returns with our global economic recovery.

Validating the Low Carbon Advantage

B.C. produces exports with less GHGs. Based on the work done pre-pandemic over the last two years with industry, the Government of B.C., Meyers Norris Penny (MNP) (a major chartered accountancy and business consulting firm in Canada) and other experts we verified this is the case.

A Vision for the Future - B.C. Commodities in our Daily Products

To maximize this low carbon advantage, the Government of B.C. needs to help even the playing field for our exporters. And it isn’t only financial.

This plan recommends we that the Government of B.C. announce protections for Emissions-Intensive Trade-Exposed (EITEs) producers to bring B.C. in line with other Canadian provinces and the rest of the world that has carbon pricing systems.

The Time is Now

We need a bold plan to recover economically from the pandemic. But we also know that British Columbians will want to do this in a way that prioritizes our climate. The world will be looking for solutions for both challenges.

B.C.’s low carbon advantage can position our province, the Government of B.C. and companies as ones showing leadership. It can demonstrate us as having an outsized impact in the world’s GHGs by becoming a cost-competitive low-carbon supplier of commodities.

A Pillar of Stronger Tomorrow, Starting Today

We are pleased to present this Low Carbon Advantage plan as part of the British Columbia business community’s overarching Stronger Tomorrow: Starting Today, An Economic Plan for B.C. Families and Businesses.

It is based on almost two years of unprecedented effort between industry—led by a team of senior policy and business leaders—and specialists in the Province of British Columbia to build on B.C.’s reputation as a reliable and responsible provider of low carbon commodities and energy.

Low Carbon Advantage Partners

B.C.'s Low Carbon Advantage for a Stronger Tomorrow

The Stronger Tomorrow plan sets out ideas for the collective government policy and business actions necessary to extract ourselves from the deep hole caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Included is a key pillar: maximize our low carbon advantage by leveling the playing field for B.C.’s export businesses and their employees to be a climate change solution provider while supporting economic recovery, innovation and jobs.