Carbon Issues

Carbon issues are becoming common place in workplace decisions. Knowing what the issues are and how to account for carbon in your business is increasing in importance. New regulations, taxes and reporting requirements will affect business throughout BC in more than just their budgets. Understanding carbon issues and how to position and promote your business in a carbon constrained world isn’t just about environmental sustainability; it’s about creating a sustainable future for your company.

Emission Reduction Planning
How will your company reduce its carbon footprint? Here are some suggestions that will reduce your carbon footprint, benefit your employees and your bottom line.

Carbon Footprint
What is a carbon footprint? We hear this term a lot these days but what does your carbon footprint include and how to do you determine how big it is?

GHG Inventories Overview
Getting ready to report your emissions or start to offset you carbon footprint? You need to do some accounting of your emissions first and a Greenhouse Gas Inventory is the way to do it. Take quick look at what a Greenhouse Gas Inventory is and how to develop one.

Carbon Credits and Allowances
Carbon credits are a means by which companies can meet mandated reductions without incurring huge costs. Purchased credits are used for offsetting your emissions. It can be mandatory in a cap and trade or regulated environment or voluntarily if you’re offsetting your emissions to be carbon neutral.

Cap and Trade
The coming BC Cap and Trade program will affect entities emitting in excess of 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ and CO₂ equivalents. The 2008 British Columbia Government has taken a proactive approach to emission reductions, leveraging its political reputation and future on climate change by making the commitment to carbon neutrality by 2010. A cap and trade program is one of the initiatives the BC Gov has taken on to help meet national and provincial emission reduction targets.

Further reading:

• Greenhouse Gas Reductions Target Act (GGRTA)
• Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act (GGRCTA)
• GHGRR Intentions Paper (BC Gov) (PDF)
• Design Recommendations for the WCI Regional Cap and Trade Program (PDF)
• Essential Requirements of Mandatory Reporting for the Western Climate Initiative, Second Draft (PDF)

Carbon Tax
The BC carbon tax was came into force July 1st 2008. It applies to all carbon fuels and is a tax of CO2e emissions (greenhouse gas converted to the equivalent carbon dioxide emission). It taxes the eventual emissions of combusted fuels based on the volume purchased at the time of purchase.

Definitions: New Market, new jargon.

Links

Government Action on Climate Change

BC Climate Action Secretariat

BC Ministry of Environment

The Climate Registry

WCI

Environment Canada GHG Information