VANCOUVER - Premier Gordon Campbell continues to prefer rhetoric when it comes to talking about climate change than offer substance and a plan for action, New Democrat Environment Critic Shane Simpson said today.

Simpson's comments come after Premier Gordon Campbell addressed the conference "Climate for Change: A smaller footprint, a healthier planet" sponsored by the Vancouver Board of Trade.

"We have heard the Premier speak on climate change, but never put those words into action. He failed to legislate targets for greenhouse gas emissions, he has waffled on his commitment to eliminate emission from coal burning, and he expects British Columbians to be satisfied with an agreement with California that cannot be enforced,' said Simpson.

"It was clear from his speech that the Premier is pre-occupied with individual responsibility, instead of addressing the responsibility of his government to take meaningful action to tackle the realities of climate change," said Simpson. "Rhetoric will not reduce gas emissions. British Columbia needs a Premier who will make commitments and keep their promises on climate change.
" Changing Their Tune:
* Instead of acting to reduce global warming and climate change, the Campbell government has acted to increase the problem.
* In 2001, the Campbell Liberal government dramatically cut climate change programs and drastically reduced the ability of BC to act effectively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
* In 2002, only days after Canada committed to ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, Gordon Campbell led an attack on Kyoto, calling on then Prime Minister Jean Chretien to delay a national implementation plan.
* In 2007, Campbell made a hasty reversal of their earlier position and is now trying to 'greenwash' his government. Empty Promises:
* Gordon Campbell says he wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020, but he has been unable to say how he came up with this number, how he intends to reach that goal, and hasn't even set incremental targets to help reach that goal.
* The 2007/08 Budget did not match the 2007 Throne Speech, it is clear Carole Taylor was not prepared for Campbell's green-turnaround. The BC government offered only an additional $4 million for climate change in this year's Budget.
* The 2007 Energy Plan set out no details or incremental targets for achieving its goals.
* Campbell signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Governors of both California and Washington, but it is not even enforceable. Secrecy:
* In April 2007, the government created 'Cabinet Committee for Climate Action', but the work of this committee is not open to the public and is excluded from the Freedom of Information Act.
* May 2007, Campbell joined the North American Climate Registry but has refused to ensure the public can have access to the information the Registry collects.
* Quietly through an Order in Council, Campbell appointed Graham Whitmarsh as Associate Deputy Minister of the Climate Action Secretariat. The government has refused to release or even outline his qualifications for this important position. Contradictions:
* Despite Campbell's statements about climate change, his government still continues to subsidize the oil and gas sector, to the tune of $265 million this year alone - and it grows every year.
* Despite the 2007 Energy Plan commitment to have zero greenhouse gas emissions from coal fired electricity generation, it turns out that this promise is easily broken. The Giscome Limestone Plant project proposal explicitly states that they are set to release 783,755 tonnes of CO2 per year.
* Despite Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon rhetoric about positive air quality effects the Gateway Project will have, according to an FOI there have been no studies done to prove that assertions.