UBCM has released its recommendations on how British Columbia’s local governments can move towards a low-carbon future. Developed by UBCM’s Special Committee on Climate Action and approved by the UBCM Executive, the recommendations outline concrete actions that can be taken for buildings, transportation, solid waste, resilience, land use-planning, social mobilization and governance.
Together, the recommendations show how local governments can help move towards a future where:
- All buildings are comfortable, leverage local resources and are low cost to operate.
- All British Columbians have transportation choices, like an electric personal vehicle or public transit, and feel safe moving around the Province.
- Across all sectors, we waste less and, when do create waste, we turn it into a clean resource.
- Communities all across the province are safe, secure, and resilient to risks like wildfires, floods and extreme weather.
- Residents and businesses are active partners with the local government in ensuring the safety of the community and building a vibrant low carbon economy.
‘These recommendations are a roadmap for taking climate action to the next level in all of our communities, from reducing emissions to creating weather resilient communities, they provide a suite of options to help advance local and provincial climate action agendas,” said Councillor Brian Frenkel, UBCM president. “I also want to thank the Committee members for all their hard work and dedication over the last year in tackling this key issue.”
Background
In July 2019, UBCM struck a Special Committee on Climate Action to generate new ideas, explore opportunities and barriers to local government action, and identify avenues for further partnership work in mitigating, and adapting to, the effects of climate change. The multi-stakeholder Committee is comprised of elected officials and senior staff from local government, as well as representatives from the Province, environmental non-governmental organizations, crown corporations and academia.
The Special Committee considered the state of climate action, local government approaches and best practices in mitigation and adaptation, and the roles and responsibilities of the orders of government and external stakeholders in supporting local action. It reviewed opportunities and barriers to taking climate action to the next level, and considered options that are sensitive to local conditions, autonomy, and resources. The Committee was chaired by former UBCM Past President, and current councillor, Arjun Singh.
For further information, contact Jared Wright, UBCM Director of Advocacy & Government Relations.