Climate action and environment
In 2019, District Council declared a climate and ecological emergency. Since then, we have accelerated our action to achieve three overarching goals:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a municipality and in the wider community
- Protect and enhance ecosystem health and biodiversity
- Improve resilience to climate change
These goals are reflected in the 2019-2022 Corporate Plan, which declares our intent to "…make the District a leader in climate emergency action, mitigation, and adaptation, and continue to care deeply for its natural assets. Healthy, biodiverse ecosystems are proactively protected and restored through policy, stewardship and community education."
On this page:
- Our key directions
- Featured plans and strategies
- Project spotlight
- Our most recent success
- How you can make a difference
Key directions
To achieve our climate action and environmental health goals, we are taking action in six key areas:
- Corporate leadership — Climate and environmental leadership in operations and policies
- Low carbon buildings — Low carbon, resilient new and existing buildings
- Low carbon transport — Low carbon mobility and land use
- Zero waste — Zero waste and the circular economy
- Healthy ecosystems — Resilient and biodiverse ecosystems
- Climate adaptation — Ensuring the District is prepared for future climate changes
Our key directions and related initiatives in depth
Featured plans & strategies
Community Energy and Emissions Plan
The Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) will help us reduce our carbon emissions and become a more energy efficient community, while improving overall health and liveability.
Strategic Energy Management Plan
Our Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP) guides our work to achieve significant emission reductions within our own municipal operations well before the broader community target of zero emissions by 2050.
Project spotlight
Increasing the urban forest
We're providing free trees to homeowners to help us expand the urban forest canopy. A healthy and robust urban forest can capture and store carbon, filter air pollutants, stabilize soils, and more.
Our most recent success
Using new technology to improve tree health and water quality
As we plant new trees along Gallant Avenue and around the Deep Cove Culture Centre plaza area this spring, we are using a new way to help healthy trees to grow and to improve rainwater quality flowing in and around sidewalks and pavers.
Read this story
View all our climate and environment success stories
How you can make a difference
Jump on a heat pump
We're working with the other North Shore municipalities and the province’s CleanBC program to help homeowners make the switch to energy efficient, low-carbon heat pumps for home heating and cooling.
