Our objective is to become a vibrant community group that partners with the Township of Esquimalt Climate Action Plan to engage with, motivate, and support Town Council and residents to decrease energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions in preparation for climate impact in order to promote the overall health and well-being of the residents of Esquimalt. We invite contact with other organizations that share these goals for our region.
Follow us on Facebook or contact Francois Brassard (ckfb@shaw.ca – 778-440-1352) to learn more.
Esquimalt’s Climate Emergency Response Plan
The world’s scientists confirmed in the 2018 IPCC report that at the current rate, the world could become 1.5˚C hotter as soon as 2030. That’s less than a decade from now and well within the lifespan of most people alive today.
1.5˚C might not sound like a big increase in temperature, but it’s the difference between life and death for thousands of people. Earth has always had natural cycles of warming and cooling, but not like we’re seeing now. Climate change science concludes that we can expect increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events as a result of climate change. Solutions exist if we treat climate change as the emergency it is.
The Township of Esquimalt is prepared to endorse a Climate Emergency Response Plan which outlines several key actions for implementation in 2020. The plan is to achieve a 38% reduction in community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2007 levels by 2030 and 100% reduction by 2050.
In order to help our municipality achieve this goal, we encourage you to respond to the survey questions in the link below dealing with proposed climate change solutions.
National Food Security? Not Without Natural Security
The Carney government recently released its National Food Security Strategy. Unfortunately, the strategy only serves to show that the government doesn’t really understand food security, particularly when it comes to the environment and health…
An Open Letter from Elder Bill Jones
As the NDP government and the forest industry continue to clear cut on unceded Pacheedaht lands and wildfires rage throughout BC and Canada, Elder Bill Jones calls again for the protection of the old-growth forests he calls his cathedral.
Towards a Drought-Ready British Columbia
Drought Ready analyzes the last decade of droughts and drought management in B.C. and offers practical guidance to move away from reactive crisis response and toward proactive drought planning. The authors focus on the provincial government’s foundational role in…
Petition Launched: That the CRD be Fully Transparent in Regard to Its Felling of Trees by Elk/Beaver Lake:
Readers of CRD Watch or the Creatively United for the Planet blog, will likely be familiar with recent articles about the felling of trees by the CRD in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Like Wooden Tombstones: The Latest Tree Decimation in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park…
Reclaiming Summer: Prioritizing Outdoor Play for Canada’s Youth
For generations, summertime in Canada has been defined as a season of play for children. However, what was once a formative part of childhood development is increasingly being replaced by “screen time.”
Help Shape Canada’s National Strategy to Advance Environmental Justice and Address Environmental Racism
About the Strategy As mandated in the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act, the federal government must publish the official Strategy by the end of 2026. The Strategy must: Identify and address environmental…
Why is Mark Carney Undermining Our Environment?
I have noted several times recently in these columns that Mark Carney’s mandate letter to his cabinet a year ago does not identify the environment as one of the government’s seven priorities; indeed, the word ‘environment’…
903 Admirals Road: Bill 16, Green Infrastructure, and a Potential Shift in Esquimalt Policy
Could Bill 16 help protect trees rather than remove them? Using 903 Admirals Road as a case study, this article explores how smaller building footprints, green infrastructure, and smarter site design could preserve urban forests.
BC Heat Collaborative Launch
The BC Heat Collaborative will officially launch at the end of this month, coinciding with the 5 year anniversary of the 2021 BC Heat Dome. The launch includes an event at Vancouver City Hall on Sunday June 28th, 1-2:30pm. More details on the Vancouver event here. How…
For Good Measure: A Handbook on Advancing Water Metering in British Columbia
Released this month, this handbook offers a practical path forward for provincial decision-makers to achieve universal water metering within the next decade. Universal water metering supports conservation, enables fair and transparent cost recovery, enhances overall…