I would like to clarify a misconception in a Jan. 4 letter to the editor written by Mr. Stan New which incorrectly states that B.C.'s carbon tax is costing the local school district more money than its southern counterparts.
In fact, because all school districts have been working to reduce their carbon footprints, every single penny they pay into the carbon tax is refunded.
The writer seems to be confusing the carbon tax - for which school districts receive a 100 per cent rebate each year - with carbon offsets. As part of the public sector, school districts must be carbon neutral.
This means they reduced their emissions as much as possible in 2010 and will soon buy offsets from the Pacific Carbon Trust for those they couldn't eliminate.
The trust will invest the offset revenues in a host of B.C. projects that do environmental good, whether they produce clean energy, conserve energy or capture carbon from the atmosphere.
Some of these projects are offered by private firms and are outside of the district's boundaries, but as the offset market takes root, the range of investment opportunities in credible offset projects will grow.
B.C.'s pioneering carbon tax and the carbon neutral public sector are part of our firm commitment to climate action.
John Yap
Minister of State for Climate Action
