B.C. Climate Accountability Report: zero-cost opportunity to lower emissions missed in the building sector

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) territories (VANCOUVER, B.C.) – In the midst of the media focus on the Federal election, the annual Climate Accountability Report was released today by the B.C. Government. 

As the B.C. Government finally admits that they are not on track to meet their climate targets, there is an opportunity to reset with the CleanBC review to outline how we can meaningfully achieve emission reductions. 

Local communities have been leading the way on climate action. The report says ‘As of January 2025, the Zero Carbon Step Code had been adopted by 29 communities’ when in fact as of March 2025, at least 33 local governments (including municipalities, regional districts, and First Nation communities) across the province – covering 45% of BC’s population – are mandating low or zero carbon construction for all building types by 2026 or sooner already. 

The B.C. Government has an opportunity to continue to drive industry innovation in the building sector with a zero-cost policy change that could prevent up to 1.5 million tonnes of carbon pollution. This can be achieved by ensuring new homes are built better now, rather than the current provincial timeline of 2030. While the report highlights progress on existing buildings, the government is at risk of undermining its climate progress by not preparing new buildings for the future by simply activating the Zero Carbon Step Code. 

“With more than 200,000 new homes expected to be built by 2030, emissions from residential buildings —currently at 4.5 million tonnes — are set to rise,” said Sunil Singal, Climate Campaigner with Stand.earth. “There’s a real opportunity here to follow Quebec’s lead on building decarbonization by accelerating the Zero Carbon Step Code to the highest level by the end of this year. Ensuring new homes are better built to meet low or zero-carbon standards will help bring the province back on track.”

Retrofitting existing homes with heat pumps combined with requiring all-electric new buildings via the Zero Carbon Step Code policy points us in the right direction to reducing our emissions for the building sector and ensures the ongoing heating and hot water costs are measurably lower than with gas systems.

“We need to tackle the affordability crisis by accelerating the transition to more affordable ways of heating our homes. It is good to see the B.C. NDP are committed to reducing the cost of heat pumps for residents, however we need to also end the expansion of inefficient gas systems in new buildings. We shouldn’t be heating and cooling our homes with old technology to the detriment of people’s health and cost of living,” continued Singal.

 

Stand.earth has been supporting municipal government leaders across Canada through its SAFE (Stand Against Fossil Fuel Expansion) Cities initiative. The campaign facilitates a network of North American local government leaders who share policies, experience, knowledge, and resources to accelerate municipal efforts toward phasing out fossil fuels and fast-tracking clean energy.

Contacts

Sunil Singal, Climate Campaigner  – Stand.earth +1 604-368-3536

sunil.singal@stand.earth (Pacific Time)

Arin de Hoog, Communications, Oil, Gas and Shipping – Stand.earth. +1 613-978-7329

arin.dehoog@stand.earth (Eastern Time)