Vancouver City Council sends right message with vote to uphold critical part of climate plan

June 10, 2021

Vancouver-based Stand.earth applauds City Councillors’ commitment to original timeline for Climate Emergency Action Plan

Unceded Coast Salish Territories (VANCOUVER, BC) — On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the Vancouver City Council voted to uphold its groundbreaking Climate Emergency Action Plan, rejecting a proposal from city staff to delay implementation of a key portion by a year. Vancouver-based Stand.earth’s SAFE Cities movement applauded the vote Wednesday night.

“This was a make-or-break moment for Vancouver and its Climate Emergency Action Plan, and Council’s leadership sends a strong signal to the fossil fuel industry that Vancouver is serious about its climate goals,” said Logan McIntosh, a Vancouver resident and Campaign Director for SAFE Cities. “The City Council’s vote last November made Vancouver the second city in North America to commit to decarbonizing existing as well as new buildings. This set an inspiring example for cities throughout Canada, in the U.S., and around the world. Wednesday’s vote further cements Vancouver’s role as a global leader among cities in the fight against the climate crisis.”

The council voted to approve CEAP in November 2020, and a portion of the sweeping plan required electrifying new and renovated homes for heating and hot water starting Jan. 1, 2022. Concerned about a backlog of building permits, city staff proposed changing the implementation date to 2023. 

The council’s hearing on the proposal drew testimony from more than 80 residents. The majority of speakers urged the council to uphold CEAP’s existing timeline, which made the city of Vancouver an international leader in addressing climate change and protecting public health. City Councillors voted Wednesday to uphold the timeline while supporting strategies to reduce the permit backlog. Stand.earth’s SAFE Cities movement joined a coalition including Sustainabiliteens, Our Time, 350.org, Vancouver Just Recovery Coalition, Climate Justice UBC, Georgia Strait Alliance, Dogwood, and Abundant Transit BC in supporting CEAP.

More about SAFE Cities:
SAFE Cities is a growing movement of neighbors, local groups, and elected officials phasing out fossil fuels and fast-tracking clean energy solutions to ensure a just transition. Already dozens of communities in Canada, in the U.S. – and several more around the globe – have passed concrete policies to keep their communities SAFE from fossil fuels, build renewable energy infrastructure, and create good, long-term jobs.

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Media contacts: 

Peter Jensen, SAFE Cities Communications Coordinator, safemedia@stand.earth, +1 415 532 3817 (Pacific Time)
Logan McIntosh, SAFE Cities Campaign Director, logan@stand.earth, +1 604 396 1226 (Pacific Time)