Ask Your Municipal Government to Take Action

We need to tell our Mayor and Councilors that we are voting for the people with the most ambitious targets and the most effective plan for reducing GHG emissions.

One action that municipalities could take is to adopt a motion that matches the targets of the BC government’s recent Speech from the Throne, including a cut in GHG emissions by 33% from current levels by the year 2020.

Important ways for municipalities to reduce GHG emissions are through:

• Land use planning: use ‘smart growth’ planning which restricts suburban growth and promotes the high-density development of the urban core.

• Energy use planning: develop a community energy plan to promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy supply opportunities.

• Municipal waste management: develop a strategy for addressing emissions from municipal waste through recycling and landfill gas capture – solid waste disposal accounts for around 9% of BC’s carbon emissions.

• Transportation demand management: encourage alternatives to private car transport (through provision of better walking and cycling facilities, improved public transit, parking and congestion charges, etc.) and promote the uptake of low-emission vehicles.

• Green buildings: encourage energy efficiency retrofits and adoption of a 'green' code for all new buildings.

Wheels for Change is designing downloadable postcards, addressed to municipal politicians, which ask them to consider supporting a target of a 33% cut in GHG emissions by 2020 through action in the areas of land use planning, energy use planning, municipal waste management, transportation management and green buildings. These postcards will be available here (link coming soon) and at our Wheels for Change booths.

For an easy-to-read document on what municipal governments should be doing, Wheels for Change recommends The Sierra Club – BC Chapter’s ‘Cool Cities’ handout.

For further information, we recommend the following documents of the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA):

• ‘Community Climate Challenge’ draft motion asking municipalities to match the targets of the BC government’s recent 2007 Speech from the Throne
• ‘Top Ten Actions for Municipal Leadership on Climate Change’ handout describing a plan of action for achieving these targets.