Climate action
B.C. is one of the most beautiful places in the world, home to countless animal species, precious ecosystems and biodiversity.
But climate-related disasters, including wildfires, floods and extreme heat, have impacted the lives of people in B.C. in recent years. Action is being taken to preserve and protect the natural landscape of B.C. for this generation and all those to come.
Connect to climate services now
Get the support you need during climate emergencies
Find the information and support you need to remain alert and prepared for climate emergencies. With year-round response and recovery programs and better coordination of vital communications that alert residents to hazards and evacuation orders, people in B.C. now have stronger supports.
Enjoy year-round comfort with heat pump rebates
Are you looking for ways to stay comfortable and save some money on heating and cooling for your home? Heat pumps are an effective tool to help your family and you remain comfortable year-round. Get up to $6,000 in rebates for eligible heat pumps.
Switch to electric for a cleaner future
Find rebates to make purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) that suits your needs more affordable. With public charging infrastructure expansions and easier home charging solutions, switching to cleaner transportation modes is now at your fingertips.
Budget 2024 – Taking action for you
Helping respond to climate emergencies
The lives of people in B.C. are now touched, every year, by climate change. We are taking action to mitigate and better respond to emergencies. New funding will help reduce flooding, manage water resources, bolster support for evacuees, improve prevention and response to wildfires, and protect people’s homes and livelihoods. We’re supporting year-round response and recovery programs and better coordination of vital communications that alert residents to hazards and evacuation orders.
More rebates on heat pumps
B.C. is experiencing extreme temperatures due to climate change. Heat pumps are an effective tool to help people remain comfortable in their homes. We are making it more affordable for people to install heat pumps with additional rebates for low- and middle -income households. Together, we are continuing to lead on climate action and building a stronger, cleaner B.C.
Expanding public electric vehicle charging stations
Many people in B.C. are now switching to clean transportation modes, like electric vehicles. To continue to deliver clean, affordable transportation options for people, reduce pollution, and make life better we’re continuing to fund grant and rebate programs that support building a clean and sustainable economy. This includes funding to further expand public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, so people have a cleaner way to get around our communities.
Protecting B.C. fruit and wine from climate change
More B.C. farmers producing grapes, cherries, tree fruit and berries will receive support to replant their vineyards, farms and orchards to make them more resilient to climate change. This will strengthen our economy and make sure people can enjoy local fruit and wine into the future.
Cleaning up 1,400 kilometers of B.C.’s coastlines
B.C.’s coastal beaches are treasured by people and known worldwide for their beauty. Garbage and debris on B.C. beaches pose health risks to marine life and coastal communities. Eight new beach clean-up projects will help to clean 1,400 kilometres of coastline and create 630 new jobs. The Clean Coasts, Clean Waters initiative is just one of the ways we’re working to support the vitality of coastal communities and protect B.C.’s beaches.
Protecting B.C.’s natural diversity of plant and animal life
It’s critical we take action to protect and take care of the natural places we love. B.C. signed a new agreement with the First Nations Leadership Council and Canada, committing to progressive, collaborative conservation and restoration actions. This includes preserving 30% of B.C.’s natural landscapes by 2030.
New Energy Action Framework
After years of record wildfires, heat waves, and flooding, people and communities in B.C. are feeling the impacts of climate change. It’s clear that we need to hit our climate targets and move forward as a clean energy leader. Our new Energy Action Framework will provide certainty for industry, create good jobs, build a clean economy, respect First Nations, and protect the environment.
Meeting the demands of a growing population
B.C.’s population is growing faster than ever and people need the services and infrastructure they rely on to keep up. We also need to protect the environment in step with population growth. We’re standing behind projects like the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade in Metro Vancouver. Improving the plant will protect residents and neighbouring water ecosystems for years to come.
Growing greener travel options
When people can walk, cycle or take transit, we all benefit from active living and a healthier climate. An investment of $100 million will expand active transportation networks, and an additional $40 million will support electric vehicle projects, as more people and businesses make the switch to zero-emission vehicles.
Supporting climate ready communities
Investing in climate resilient communities means getting people the emergency services and stable infrastructure they need, in the face of climate change. An investment of $1.1 billion will help people to build back better, and secure communities for future climate events.
Taking more action to care for B.C. forests
B.C. is changing how forests are managed and bringing more voices to the table, to put the full health of our forests first. Our plan includes protecting more old growth and speeding up innovation to keep people working.
Conservation of the Incomappleux Valley
A large part of rare inland rainforest is now protected as part of B.C.’s commitment to protect 30% of nature by 2030. The Incomappleux Valley is home to old growth trees, many animals and plants, and one of only a few temperate rainforests of its kind.
Partnering with Indigenous communities on clean energy solutions
Partnering with Indigenous communities to replace diesel power, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy independence for First Nations.
More sustainable land use
Continuing our work with farmers and growers to make sure the soil and crops that we all depend on continue to feed us into the future.
This includes investing in sustainability upgrades for farms, strengthening B.C.’s forests, and expanding the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program, which will help Indigenous partners commercialize and scale-up innovative forest-based products.
Protecting people and communities from climate-related disasters
Investing to build back better from fires and floods, and to protect people and communities from future climate-related disasters.
Cleaner transportation options for communities
Making sure funding is there to encourage communities to build more bike lanes, multi-use pathways and other transportation infrastructure, so people have greener options to get around.
Protecting old growth in B.C.
Working in partnership with First Nations to defer harvest of ancient, rare and priority large stands of old growth within 2.6 million hectares of B.C.’s most at-risk old-growth forests.
Reducing the effects of climate change
B.C. is planting hundreds of millions of trees every year and creating more parks to harness nature’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Since 2018, we have planted more than one billion trees, including 301 million this year alone.
Taking action on climate change
CleanBC is B.C.’s plan to lower climate-changing emissions by 40% by 2030 and we are already making progress. But the scale of the climate emergency we are living through demands that we act with even greater urgency. That’s why we are scaling up measures that are working and introducing new ideas so we can meet our ambitious climate targets. B.C. is collaborating with partners, industry and local governments to take action. Together, we’re protecting nature, building a cleaner economy and preparing communities for our future climate.
Keeping our waters clean and protecting habitat
Continuing to protect salmon habitat and securing our freshwater resources, while also working with industry partners to clean up plastic debris from our beautiful coastline and ocean.
Helping local government take climate action
Helping B.C. communities fight against climate change and build a cleaner, stronger economy for people by funding and supports for local governments to enhance climate action.
Sustainable resource development
Supporting sustainable resource development while growing a safe mining sector, supporting workers and businesses in the forestry sector, and working to create jobs for British Columbians.
Cleaner industry in B.C.
Right now, electricity meets close to 20% of our energy needs. With help from BC Hydro, we have a plan to electrify our economy and push that percentage up.
Funding for clean industry and innovation, including enhancing the CleanBC Program for Industry will help us meet our low-carbon economic goals.
Helping communities reduce disaster risk
Providing funding to help local governments and First Nations plan for and reduce disaster risk, including through investments in the FireSmart program, the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund and support for Indigenous-led emergency management priorities.
Building more with low-carbon materials
Meeting our climate goals while advancing the use of mass timber to support new jobs and long-term investments in value-added manufacturing, green building and forest sector diversification.