British Columbia is significantly off track from meeting its climate change objectives, according to a comprehensive independent review of the province's CleanBC plan released this week. The assessment reveals that current policies and the expanding liquefied natural gas sector are creating substantial challenges for achieving emissions reduction targets.
Ambitious Targets Meet Harsh Reality
The CleanBC plan, introduced in 2018, established a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 2007 levels by 2030. The plan encompasses various initiatives targeting transportation, buildings, and industrial sectors. However, after six months of detailed analysis, reviewers Merran Smith and Dan Woynillowicz concluded that B.C. has only achieved approximately half of the necessary progress toward its 2030 goal.
Smith, founder and chief innovation officer of Clean Energy Canada, and Woynillowicz, principal at Polaris Strategy, presented their findings on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Their report contains eighty recommendations for the provincial government, urging a fundamental recalibration of climate action approaches.
The LNG Conundrum
The review highlights particular concern around the expansion of liquefied natural gas projects in the province. While acknowledging that LNG development could bring billions in investment and create thousands of jobs, the authors warn that these projects could push emissions reduction targets further out of reach.
The electricity demands alone are staggering - the report estimates that powering expanded LNG operations would require equivalent of seven and a half Site C Dams worth of electricity. This massive energy requirement presents a fundamental conflict with the province's climate objectives.
Success Stories Amid Challenges
Despite the overall concerning assessment, the review identified several areas where CleanBC initiatives are delivering positive results. Between 2018 and 2022, the province achieved a 60 percent reduction in methane pollution. The electric vehicle adoption target has been surpassed, with more than 220,000 EVs now on British Columbia's roads.
Additionally, heat pump installations are now outpacing the purchase of new gas furnaces, indicating a shift toward cleaner heating solutions. "These policies are working. Some of them take time, and our advice is really extend and strengthen some of these ones that are working," Smith told reporters during the announcement.
The authors argue that the government should focus on setting more realistic targets and improving communication with the public. They emphasize combating misinformation around technologies like electric vehicles while highlighting the benefits of climate action, including reduced heating and fueling costs for British Columbians.
