COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité

The report analyzes British Columbia's position in the global transition to carbon neutrality, highlighting a low overall proportion of workers in vulnerable sectors (3%) but significant localized risks in rural communities dependent on metallurgical coal and natural gas. It identifies strong competitive advantages, including the CleanBC roadmap and a low-carbon electricity grid, and notes the growth of 175 transition-supporting companies. However, it warns that policy misalignment and a focus on multinational firms over small-to-medium enterprises may hinder the province's ability to fully capitalize on clean tech opportunities.

• British Columbia has one of the lowest proportions of workers in transition-vulnerable sectors in Canada, at 3%. These workers are primarily split between the oil and gas or mining and quarrying sectors, and high-emission manufacturing industries such as chemicals, metals, and plastics.
• While the overall provincial risk is low, specific rural and remote communities face high concentrations of vulnerable employment. For example, 13% of the workforce in Fort St. John and 8% in Dawson Creek are employed in oil and gas, while nearly half of Elkford's active population works at the Teck coal mine.
• The province's economy is exposed to medium-term declines in global demand for natural gas and metallurgical coal, which are major exports. This risk is compounded by investments in LNG Canada facilities in Kitimat and potential shifts toward green steel manufacturing by 2030 or 2040.
• British Columbia hosts 175 companies in transition-supporting sectors, with the highest concentrations in bio-products and bioenergy (21%), low-carbon electricity (18%), and alternative proteins and ag-tech (17%). Three-quarters of these firms are located in Metro Vancouver, though regional hubs are emerging in the Okanagan Valley, Vancouver Island, Prince George, and the Trail region.
• Major industrial players are investing in decarbonization: Teck Mining is piloting electric haul trucks at the Highland Copper mine, and Lafarge Canada is partnering with Svante to test a CO2 capture and reuse solution at its Richmond cement plant.
• Policy misalignment may hinder growth; for instance, the British Columbia Utilities Commission does not have climate change as a central objective. Additionally, financial support for fossil fuel producers—approximately $530 million in 2020—weakens market signals for clean technology investment.
• Provincial climate programs often prioritize multinationals and established firms, limiting opportunities for local small and medium enterprises. Consequently, nearly 90% of clean tech revenues are expected to come from outside the province over the next three to five years.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2022). COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BC-profile-FR.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité. 2022. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BC-profile-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité |date=2022 |url=https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BC-profile-FR.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2022colombiebritannique, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE : risques et occasions de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2022}, url = {https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BC-profile-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }