Lək̓ʔəŋən [LEKWUNGEN] TERRITORY / VICTORIA, B.C. — The CleanBC Review was delivered today as a result of the BC Greens’ insistence under the Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord (CARGA). The party credits its caucus for securing an independent assessment the government had avoided for years, but cautions that many recommendations were fundamentally inadequate.
“The review’s data shows LNG expansion would be a disaster for BC’s communities, our workers, and our climate goals,” said Lowan. “At the same time, the recommendations are toothless, rolling back targets and bending the knee to the corporate-captured BC NDP. The review identifies LNG as the problem, but its proposed solutions would make industry lobbyists blush.
“This review only exists because the BC Greens demanded transparency,” Lowan added. “Now that the public can finally see the weakened state of CleanBC, it’s clear why this scrutiny was long overdue.”
While the reviewers provide a range of analysis, the BC Greens say it underscores a fundamental contradiction in BC’s climate plan: expanding LNG production is incompatible with meeting the province’s emissions targets. Lowan emphasized that new LNG developments would generate enough additional pollution to cancel out reductions in other sectors of the economy.
“You can’t build a sustainable economy while expanding LNG,” Lowan said. “This is not just our analysis, the review highlights the incompatibility of LNG expansion with BC’s climate future. Yet Premier Eby refuses to reckon with this reality, choosing instead to protect foreign-owned megacorporations looting BC’s resources.”
The report also signals that BC’s climate policies rely heavily on EVs, which, while important, cannot possibly address the full spectrum of emissions. Lowan stressed that a credible plan must tackle emissions from industry, buildings, and transportation alike.
Lowan raised alarms about various recommendations in the review that could weaken climate accountability, including proposals to lower the 2030 emissions target, remove sectoral targets, or rely on unproven made-in-B.C. renewable natural gas (RNG) solutions without clear pathways.
“This report risks creating loopholes that let mega-corporations continue to emit dangerous levels of fossil-fuels,” she said. “British Columbians should reject all attempts to water down targets or greenwash LNG expansion.”
Despite concerns, Lowan noted several recommendations she says the government must adopt immediately. These include aligning CleanBC with UNDRIP and DRIPA, establishing a credible net-zero pathways assessment, calculating the social cost of carbon, giving the BC Utilities Commission a clear climate mandate, strengthening methane regulations, and directing climate revenues into emissions-reduction projects.
“There is real value in this report,” Lowan said. “But these reforms will fail unless the government stops pouring public money into LNG megaprojects. Continued fossil fuel expansion sabotages BC’s economic and environmental future.”
The BC Greens say they will push the government to implement the strongest recommendations and reject those that weaken accountability or entrench LNG expansion. Lowan emphasized that the party will use every tool available to ensure the review leads to action, not another cycle of delay.
“Climate action only works if the government is willing to face reality,” Lowan said. “LNG expansion is derailing BC’s climate commitments and endangering our communities — the NDP must stop pretending otherwise.”
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