As of January 1, 2016, British Columbia has enforced the new Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act (GGIRCA) to set a greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) intensity benchmark for regulated industries, including LNG facilities.

The new reporting regulation replaces the exisiting industrial reporting regulation, and adds compliance reporting requirements, including specific requirements for LNG operations. Industrial operations will continue to report GHG emissions as they have since 2010.

Benchmarks can be reached through incentive-like options including purchasing offsets or paying a set price per tonne of GHGs that would be dedicated to a technology fund.

“The greenhouse gas emissions cap we have placed on our LNG facilities will make B.C.’s LNG the cleanest in the world,” added Mary Polak, B.C.’s minister of environment. “This is yet another example of our international leadership on climate action.”

Three regulations necessary to implement the act are now in effect:

• the GHG reporting regulation
• the GHG administrative penalties and appeals regulation
• the GHG control regulation