NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008OTP0180-001092 July 21, 2008	Office of the Premier
PROVINCE OFFSETS TRAVEL EMISSIONS FOR PNWER DELEGATES

VANCOUVER – The Province will help make the 18^th annual Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) summit a carbon-neutral event by offsetting the travel emissions for the estimated 800 delegates, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

 

“We all recognize that climate change is a huge challenge that requires both local, regional and international action and solutions,” said Premier Campbell. “Here in British Columbia, we’ve set aggressive targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020, and making government carbon-neutral by 2010. As hosts of 18^th annual PNWER summit, it’s fitting that we take steps to help make this event carbon-neutral as well.”

 

Delegates at PNWER are being encouraged to calculate their travel-related greenhouse gas emissions at special SmartTEC (Travel Emissions Calculator) kiosks the Province has customized for the summit.

 

For every tonne of travel-related emissions by delegates as part of their travel to and from the summit, the Province will invest $25 in the Pacific Carbon Trust. The total cost of offsetting emissions for PNWER delegate travel is estimated to be about $6,000. That money will then be used to invest in offset projects here in B.C. – projects that do things like increase energy efficiency or produce clean, renewable energy.

 

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Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177	Jamie Edwardson Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat 250 356-7373
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