Carbon Neutrality

• Carbon Sequestration: It is the use of practices, technologies, or other measures that increase the retention of carbon in soil, vegetation, geologic formations, or the oceans with the effect of offsetting carbon dioxide emissions from other sources. For instance, agricultural producers can help address greenhouse gas concerns by implementing practices that cause the land to act as a sink for carbon, by decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases from agricultural production activities.  Many of the activities that increase the organic content of soils, and thus sequester carbon, also increase agricultural productivity as well as improve soil, air and water quality; and
• Carbon Offset: It is a mechanism by which the impact of GHG emissions is neutralized through the implementation of an action elsewhere that will consume or reduce emissions by an equivalent amount of GHG emissions.  A carbon offset is a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in GHG emissions.  Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).  One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.  There are two markets for carbon offsets. In the larger compliance market, companies, governments, or other entities buy carbon offsets in order to comply with caps on the total amount of carbon dioxide they are allowed to emit.   In the much smaller voluntary market, individuals, companies, or governments purchase carbon offsets to mitigate their own greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity use, and other sources.

In addition to CO2, the focus of carbon neutrality includes other five greenhouse gases regulated by the Kyoto Protocol which are measured in terms of their carbon dioxide equivalence (CO2e) – the impact of a GHG has on the atmosphere expressed in the equivalent amount of CO_2. The names of those greenhouse gases are:  Methane (CH₄), Nitrous Oxide (N₂O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), Perfluorocarbons (PFC), and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6).

Local governments from across B.C. signed a Climate Action Charter in September 2007 with the Province and the Union of BC Municipalities, committing to a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

In addition to a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012, local governments pledged to measure and report on their community’s greenhouse gas emissions profile and work to create compact, more energy efficient communities.

The BC Climate Action Charter recognizes that carbon neutrality involves measuring the greenhouse gas emissions that come from government operations such as buildings and fleet vehicles and then reducing those emissions to net zero. Governments achieve carbon neutrality by reducing emissions where possible, by purchasing carbon offsets to compensate for its greenhouse gas emissions or by developing projects to offset emissions. Such projects may include converting to energy efficient buildings and replacing old fleet vehicles and buses with hybrids.

BC Premier Campbell said that the province will work in partnership with the Union of B.C. Municipalities to develop a framework to track what local governments pay annually in carbon tax.  They will be required to report annually on steps they have taken to achieve carbon neutrality by 2012.

“If communities do that, and publicly report on their plan and progress in meeting that goal, they will be eligible to receive a grant equal to 100 per cent of their carbon tax costs,” Campbell said.

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