New Westminster approves 'seven bold steps' to fight climate crisis
Credit to Author: Tiffany Crawford| Date: Wed, 06 Nov 2019 15:33:56 +0000
New Westminster city council has this week unanimously voted on a “seven bold steps” plan to address the climate emergency.
The steps, outlined in a report to council, are part of the city’s 2020 Strategic Plan. They range from making the city more pedestrian and bike friendly to requiring all new homes and buildings to be zero emission by 2030.
The city’s plan comes as more than 11,000 scientists in 153 countries published a report Tuesday in the journal Bioscience formally stating the planet is facing a climate emergency, as reported in The Washington Post.
New Westminster’s plan includes prioritizing climate emergency initiatives over other non-climate related priorities in the five-year financial plan, including reallocation of funds where necessary, making carbon pricing part of the city’s decision-making process, and exploring the possibility of a green levy on electrical utility bills to fund climate emergency initiatives.
Here are New Westminster’s seven steps:
Force of Nature Alliance, a group which aims to transform Metro Vancouver into a zero carbon metropolis, issued a statement late Tuesday applauding the city for taking “bold solutions” to the threat of climate change.
“New West is diving headlong into the race to net-zero emissions,” said organizer Katelyn Maki, in the the statement. “To be honest, it’s the kind of climate action we need to be seeing in every city in the Lower Mainland.”
New Westminster is one of more than half a dozen cities in Metro Vancouver and the surrounding area to have declared a climate emergency, including Port Moody,Burnaby, and Vancouver.
Surrey is the latest city to declare a crisis, as city council on Monday directed staff to review the city’s climate targets.
Across B.C., more than two dozen cities, towns and districts, including Victoria, Smithers, and the Regional District of Central Kootenay, have backed climate emergency motions since the start of the year.
Metro Vancouver’s regional board has also declared a climate emergency.
Metro Vancouver last year approved its Climate 2050 Strategic Framework, and over the next two years will develop its Climate 2050 Roadmaps, which will provide specific goals, strategies and actions for issues such as nature and ecosystems, infrastructure, human health, transportation and energy.
In 2020, Metro will complete an update of its Clean Air Plan. In 2021, it will develop its next regional emissions inventory to track emission sources and trends.
ticrawford@postmedia.com
-With a file from Nick Eagland and The Canadian Press