Increase climate ambition, expand safe cycling and urban forests, prioritize health and safety for citizens: Vision’s Climate Plan

Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish Territories (Vancouver) - Vision Vancouver released its climate and environmental agenda today, with a series of actions that respond to the impact that the climate crisis is having on Vancouverites and reposition Vancouver as a global green leader.

“Extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and erratic weather events have all impacted people in this city in real and damaging ways,” said Vision Vancouver council candidate Lesli Boldt.

“Residents and businesses are worried about the future. The time for urgent action was yesterday. And yet we saw more progress in the decade leading up to the current council declaring a climate emergency than we have since. There’s been a lot of hot air coming out of City Hall this term, but not a lot of action.” 

“Vision will work with other progressive parties who have shown a real dedication to the action on the environment - not just talk - to make Vancouver a green leader.”

“Vision Vancouver has a strong legacy of leadership and real action on climate – it’s what drew me to join the party,” said Vision council candidate and former Green Party Park Board commissioner Stuart Mackinnon.  “Vancouver residents are proud of our city’s goal to be the greenest in the world, but this city council has missed several opportunities to live up to that commitment. Vancouverites expect their government to respond to the climate crisis with tangible action. Vision has a plan to do just that.”

Vision’s climate and environmental agenda includes:

• Stepping up action on the Climate Emergency Action Plan, updating our city’s ambition in line with the latest climate science, and re-activating the Renewable City Strategy to put Vancouver at the forefront of clean energy once again
• Restoring coasts and forests by identifying 10 city parks to pilot reforestation projects this term
• Aggressively tackling cycling and pedestrian safety, by prioritizing enhanced, dedicated cycling infrastructure in these 3 priority areas:
  • Commercial Drive
  • Kingsway
  • Stanley Park
• Expanding  car sharing in Vancouver and add more e-bikes to public bike share, advocating for the integration of car and bike share programs into Compass, so users only need one card payment for all mobility services.
  

• Improving the City’s Emergency heat response. Vision will take steps to enforce rules around how hot buildings can get, open pools until midnight during extreme heat events and focus on tree planting to reduce heat in neighbourhoods like the Downtown Eastside

Earlier this week, Vision announced a commitment to vote on city-wide zoning reform within 90 days of taking office–recognizing that land use is a key tool for municipalities to respond to the climate crisis. 

“We know that zoning for denser neighbourhoods is critical for reducing emissions in Vancouver,” said Lesli Boldt. “Any city councillor who declares a climate emergency but votes against adding new housing throughout the city isn’t green.”

Vision has also announced a plan to remove natural gas from public schools by 2035. 

“Action on climate is not just the work of our city council,” said Stuart Mackinnon. “Vision Vancouver is committed to collaborating at all three boards – council, school, and parks – to reduce emissions and ensure the health and safety of all Vancouverites, including school age kids.”

Vision Vancouver will release its full platform in the coming days. 

For more information, go to www.votevision.ca.