An old speed-reading course helped as I went through Tuesday’s Throne Speech. But skimming through the verbiage, I stopped at this claim by David Eby’s BC government:

Our net greenhouse gas emissions are down 5 per cent from six years ago when our continent-leading CleanBC plan was first launched.

Amazing what climate “progress” can be accomplished by NOT counting emissions accurately.

In January, twenty-four scientists from Yale University, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, and Peking University had a study published by the journal Science. It focused on Alberta tar sands.

Researchers used sophisticated measurements and laboratory experiments and discovered that many pollutants related to fossil fuel production greatly exceed the emissions previously reported.

… reporting gaps may include hazardous, reactive, or secondary air pollutants…

…new aircraft-based measurements revealed total gas-phase organic carbon emissions that exceed oil sands industry–reported values by 1900% to over 6300%… Measured facility-wide emissions represented approximately 1% of extracted petroleum, resulting in total organic carbon emissions equivalent to that from all other sources across Canada combined.

The Yale Engineering website noted that while governments mandate monitoring of certain emissions, the programs have focused on tracking a limited range of compounds, leaving many gaseous emissions left unmeasured. These impact air quality in surrounding areas and contribute to the mounting climate crisis.

Regulators and fossil fuel companies are aware of inadequate monitoring, but measurement defects suit their business and political objectives.

Administrations like those in Canada’s three western provinces are reluctant to commission comprehensive research that may deliver unwanted results. They choose to ignore or discount inquiries already available.

By example, BC’s record breaking releases of carbon from 2023 wildfires are uncounted because the Eby government says these are natural events. The province also chooses not to count emission from human-caused slash-pile burning.

We can learn more from a European agency.

Without the willingness to pursue accurate information, Canada’s elected officials can argue that dangerous emissions are declining, even when they are rising. Convenient, eh?

Canada falls four ranks and is now at 62nd in the CCPI. The country remains among the very low performing countries.Canada receives a very low rating in the GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, and Energy Use categories. Climate Policy is rated low.

Climate Change Performance Index 2024

Bill McKibben does not only blame politicians and executives from oil and gas companies. He’s angry at big banks — the companies that represent the capital in capitalism — because they’ve now backed away even from their very scant climate commitments. He calls out car companies that have opposed every regulation ever proposed.

McKibben says the rich don’t understand we’re in an emergency, or they don’t care. He adds:

We only get one life. The thought that young people are having to live theirs under this shadow—damaged by the climate crisis even before its fully hit them—should give all of us real pause. There’s a generational theft underway: of water and ice and coral, but also of security and ease.

I cry for my youngest grandchild. The joyful nine-year-old today loves friends, family, school, RC cars, baseball, hockey, and now golf. He’s unaware of what lies ahead, but someday he and his cousins will ask why my generation did not do more to avoid disaster.