VANCOUVER - British Columbia's premier will present a green agenda as part of Tuesday's throne speech, which will include a plan to reduce greenhouse emissions with set targets.
Gordon Campbell said Saturday that all British Columbians, in both the public and private sector, need to do their part.
"It's not just about government and it's not just about organizations, it's about you and I,'' he said.
Campbell wouldn't confirm reports that the province's new plan will mirror that of California, which has committed to combat global warming by actively tackling greenhouse gas polluters.
Campbell has spoken with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and is reportedly set to meet him in the coming weeks.
Environmentalists and the opposition New Democrats say it's time B.C. joins the fight against climate change.
Groups such as the Sierra Club of Canada and Greenpeace are concerned that some provincial government plans will take British Columbia in the wrong environmental direction.
They would like to see an end to proposed plans for coal-fired power plants, to the expansion of the 50-kilometre section of the Trans-Canada Highway from Vancouver to Langley, and to subsidies for oil and gas companies.
Campbell wouldn't confirm whether the plans for the coal-fired power plants would be scrapped.
Lisa Matthaus, campaigns director with the Sierra Club of Canada, said legislating greenhouse gas reduction targets would be welcomed by her organization and others. However, she wants to see some specific short-term goals set, starting immediately until 2010.
"This is where you get the most carbon bang for your buck, in the first ten years,'' she said.
B.C. Opposition Leader Carole James said Campbell's plan now is a far cry from a few weeks ago.
"It's really interesting to see that two weeks ago Gordon Campbell was saying no to target admissions,'' she said. "If he has a real plan and if he's going to bring targets forward, I'll be celebrating.''
Greenpeace wants to see B.C., along with other provinces, follow the lead of Quebec when it comes to environmental issue. That province introduced a carbon tax to finance greenhouse gas reduction.
"Action from B.C. is certainly long overdue,'' said Dave Martin, energy coordinator with Greenpeace Canada."The question's going to be what are they planning to target.''
Martin said his group was not consulted by the B.C. government regarding Tuesday's throne speech. Schwarzenegger worked with Greenpeace prior to launching that state's plan on global warming.
According to Environment Canada, in 2004, British Columbia generated nine per cent of Canada'a total greenhouse gas emissions.
Most of the province's greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector.
