In early 2007 the release of a wide-ranging report by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) put to rest any scientific doubt about whether climate change is happening.

The IPCC report – drafted, reviewed and accepted by over 1,200 scientists from 113 countries – shows clearly that climate change is happening and that it is caused by human activities, particularly the increased burning of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. The burning of these fuels creates the emission of gasses that thicken the atmosphere creating a blanket that traps heat and warms up the planet.

Scientists tell us that we must reduce the emissions going up into the atmosphere by 80% by 2050 in order to prevent the temperature on the planet rising beyond the point that human life can be sustained.

The BC government rose to this call and shortly after the IPCC report was released, Premier Campbell announced BC would take significant actions to reduce emissions in the province. However, the 2007 Budget was announced the following week and did not contain measures on either the spending or the revenue side that evidenced support for this new direction.