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Thread on todays' #CleanBC update: GHG pollution grew rapidly in transportation sector in 2018, BC's biggest contributor to #climatecrisis. #bcpoli @abundanttransit @Climate_Pete @ActingGreater @TransitYYJ https://twitter.com/charliesmithvcr/status/1339367871592374272
#CleanBC report says the 3% "increase in emissions in 2018 was largely due to increases in fuel consumed in heavy-duty diesel vehicles, oil and gas extraction, off-road industrial transport, and light-duty gasoline-powered trucks"
Really, the picture for GHG pollution from transportation is a complete disaster. GHG from some sectors went down, but transportation GHGs soared 6% in ONE YEAR! So of course there are lame excuses. (This is page 17 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/climate-change/action/cleanbc/2020_climate_change_accountability_report.pdf) #bcpoli
To put a 6% increase in context, the UN says GHG pollution needs to be coming down by over 7% a year. We went in the wrong direction almost as fast as we need to be going the other way. You might wonder why this happened . . .
Firstly. #CleanBC does not really cover the transportation sector. It only touches on small bits of transport like promoting active transportation. And there is no budget to do anything substancial, so anything good that happens is done by municipalities. #bcpoli
More importantly, the provincial and federal governments spend billions on highway expansion (which they know full well increases GHG pollution). #bcpoli See e.g. https://vancouversun.com/news/stimulus-money-should-fund-green-transportation-not-highways-says-caucus/wcm/db214a99-8d23-4e81-a047-d1e0880ca7fc/
Instead of kicking the can down the road for another year, maybe it is time for the #BCNDP government to honor the federal-provincial climate agreement signed in 2016? https://ricochet.media/en/2971/auditor-general-must-tell-the-truth-about-climate-and-infrastructure-spending #cleanbc #bcpoli
The good news is that we know how to bring transportation GHG pollution down quickly, and make our communities healthier and more affordable at the same time. And lot of cities are leading the way. e.g. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/03/04/opinion/make-2020-year-peak-car
The other good news comes from that place we always like to point to and say 'at least we are not as bad as them' even when it is not true. https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/12/15/what-will-mayor-pete-mean-for-the-u-s-dot/
And of course this: https://twitter.com/BowinnMa/status/1110611110774730752
Back to the #CleanBC report, on page 22. We see the emphasis on #biofuels (which in general don't significantly reduce real GHG footprint, but look good on paper) above transit, walking and cycling. #bcpoli
p 23 "This year, we increased the LCFS to a 20% reduction in average carbon intensity of fuel by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, updating the previous requirement of 10% reduction
by 2020 – a first in Canada." Better to assume that there is no real net GHG reductions from biofuels.
by 2020 – a first in Canada." Better to assume that there is no real net GHG reductions from biofuels.
