The B.C. government says it's achieved this with energy conservation projects in schools, hospitals and other provincial buildings, and by purchasing carbon offsets, in clean energy projects.

The government admits the public sector accounts of just one per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions in B.C., and school and transit buses are exempt from the carbon neutral goal, but it says the sector can inspire others to reduce their carbon footprint.

Critics, including independent B.C. MLA Bob Simpson and B.C. NDP Environment critic Rob Fleming, say the government's carbon neutral claim has achieved very little in terms of actual greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Pacific Carbon Trust, the B.C. publicly owned carbon credit agency, which provincial institutions are required to buy from, is making profits from carbon offsets.

"A myth like carbon neutral would be relatively harmless if it were just something that businesses and individuals did on their own. But when adopted as official government policy, it can be harmful," stated Mark Jaccard professor of sustainable energy at Simon Fraser University.