Image: Supplied by City of Chilliwack / The City of Chilliwack has approved an update to its climate action plan that aims to aggressively cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Climate action

City of Chilliwack embraces aggressive climate action plan, aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030

Aug 17, 2022 | 12:09 PM

CHILLIWACK — The City of Chilliwack is going all in on an ambitious plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by the end of this decade.

Chilliwack City Council approved on Tuesday (Aug. 16) an updated Corporate and Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) that will see the municipality pursue greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the City and the community and strategies moving forward.

According to a statement from the City, the CCAP aims to reduce emissions from buildings, transportation, and waste management, while protecting and enhancing natural areas, in order to cut emissions 40 per cent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050, relative to 2007 levels. T

The plan contains a range of actions that complement provincial and federal emissions reduction initiatives to help Chilliwack become a clean, carbon neutral community by 2050, the statement explained. The CCAP focuses on decreasing emissions by 50 per cent from the City’s fleet vehicles, facilities, and operations by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2050, from 2010 levels.

“Both the Corporate and Community Climate Action Plans build on the City’s progress to date reducing emissions from our organization and from the community, but we know there is more work to do,” Chilliwack mayor Ken Popove said in a press release. “These plans will guide the City’s next steps as we work to make sure that Chilliwack continues to be a resilient, healthy community well into the future.”

AbbyPD

Police respond to stabbing, two fires in Abbotsford

12h ago

Black Dog

Led Zeppelin tribute act comes to Chilliwack

13h ago

Environment Canada says strong winds are coming to parts of B.C. starting on Monday.

14h ago

In 2011-12, the City adopted Integrated Air Quality, Energy and Greenhouse Gas Action Plans to address the related issues of air quality and climate change. At that time, the plans provided a baseline of energy use and resulting emissions, set reduction targets, and identified actions to support those targets. After ten years, the plans required a review and updates.

To update the plans, the City conducted a consultation process that involved staff, stakeholders, and the public. Public consultation focused on actions that can be taken regarding buildings and transportation, as the largest contributors to core community emissions. Overall, consultation found that there is a high level of community concern about climate change and strong support for the proposed emissions reduction targets and initiatives. Over 70 per cent of survey respondents were extremely or moderately concerned about climate change and over 75 per cent agreed with the emissions reduction targets and timelines or were in favour of achieving the reductions even faster.

The City of Chilliwack signed on to the B.C. Climate Action Charter in 2007, and has been completing a variety of projects every year to improve air quality, conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some actions to date include expanding the transit system and bicycle network, compostable waste diversion, replacing street lights with LEDs, and electric vehicle charging stations.

More information about the City’s climate actions is available at chilliwack.com/climatechange.