B.C. premier unveils fine print of climate action plan

The B.C. government has unveiled a big part of its plan to meet its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissionsby a third by 2020.

A 126-page plan released Thursday is supposed to take the province 73 per centof the way tothat goal.

Premier Gordon Campbell calls itthe most aggressive environmental plan in North America.

"The plan outlines a road map to a new, prosperous green economy for British Columbia, with a wide range of specific actions which will make the province more efficient, competitive and productive while reducing greenhouse gases," Campbell said in a written statement.

Many of the initiatives outlined in the Climate Action Plan were introduced in February's provincial budget, but the document reveals for the first time that those strategies are expected to take the province 73 per cent of the way to the final target.

Environment Minister Barry Penner said the plan summarizes how the government will reach its carbon targets, including entrenching greenhouse gas reduction targets in law.

It targets all sectors of the B.C. economy, and aims to educate British Columbians about the need to fight global warming and ensure they adapt to the realities of climate change, the provincial government said.

Part of the planis already being implemented, with a July 1 start for acarbon tax that will add an extra 2.4 cents per litre ongasoline and similar taxes on other fossil fuels.

NDP call extra charge 'tax grab'

In the first three years, the carbon tax will generate an estimated $1.8 billion in revenue.

The NDP opposition has called it a tax grab.

The government has said it is revenue neutral,returning every dollar raised to citizens and businesses in the form of income and business tax cuts.

The Climate Action Plan also includes other previously released plans, including a proposed but undefined carbon emission cap-and-trade system, investments in green technologies and the expansion of Citizens' Conservation Councils to help build grassroots climate initiatives in communities across the province.

Previous initiatives that are part of the climate plan include a "Scrap-It" program to provide up to $2,250 in cash incentives to get older, gas-guzzling vehicles off the road, a green building code and hydroelectric expansion.

"All of us must be part of the climate change solution," said Campbell, adding British Columbia is positioning itself to become a green economic powerhouse.