@sunilsingal
I love to talk about building electrification & transit + the difference local govs can make in reducing emissions. campaigner for http://Stand.earth | former president of Force of Nature Alliance, and director with West Coast Climate Action Network
This announcement by 8 of the provinces and 2 territories is a good step in the right direction.
Looking forward to diving into the federal Electricity Strategy when it’s released.
If only there was a way we could consume all that steel domestically and somehow also address climate change and reduce cost of living ... Oh well
Over 600 people are now registered to speak at council tomorrow, setting likely the record for most registered speakers in Vancouver.
People are rightly upset with the the lack of transparency from Sim, who’s trying to dismantle the sustainability and climate work through an opaque budget.
Will the new power be used to decarbonize our existing infrastructure (like housing) — or will it be to power new fossil fuel projects like LNG?
I think the answer is clear: let’s invest in a climate-safe future.
Thanks @zoeyunker.bsky.social for the chat. More here: thetyee.ca/News/2025/05...
The B.C government’s new Call for Power is good news, but a key question remains: how will the province choose to use this new electricity to shape B.C’s future?
In 2 weeks, the MVRD board of directors will deliberate whether to reduce or eliminate funding entirely for #climateaction as a core service. Yesterday, over 100 business leaders across Metro Van sent a clear message to the board: climate action cuts would hurt business dailyhive.com/vancouver/me...
If you too are worried about climate action as a core service being cut at the next special board meeting scheduled for April 9th, consider sending the board a quick email at BIS-Secretariat@metrovancouver.org or you can use our handy tool here: act.stand.earth/page/80714/a...
P.s did you know earthquake monitoring was on the chopping block today as part of the discussions? Also, did anyone else in Metro Vancouver just feel that shake? 🤷♂️
Having a short term outlook will negatively impact us all in the long run. Let’s make good choices for our region. /end
There will be an opportunity to speak at the Board next Friday, and I urge folks to write in and/or sign up to speak.
At @stand.earth, we’ll have more details on how to engage as they become available for those who are interested. Stay tuned!
Thankfully, a majority heard residents and voted to continue funding regional climate coordination.
But the conversation isn’t over. On February 28th at 9am they will discuss another motion on whether to cut ENTIRE core services, which could include Air Quality and Climate Action as one of them.
And it seems like dozens of businesses and thousands of residents across Metro Vancouver would agree. Over 4000 people wrote in to Metro’s board today calling on them to continue their important climate work.
Air Quality and Climate Action is one of Metro’s core service areas. The cost to households? $7 per year — & of that, $1 goes to regional climate coordination. That $7 is LESS than I pay in a day for public transit in our region. I’m happy to pay my fair share for climate.
Metro Vancouver directors have been in an intense debate these last few months on answering the question: “what should the region consider as a core service? And is regional climate coordination within the scope of those core services?”
Thread on today’s special board meeting 🧵
ABC cllrs also seem to be increasingly at odds at the MVRD Board. Cllr Dominato has championed the Climate 2050 plan in reducing GHG’s, while some of her colleagues attempt to gut climate from Metro’s core services. The Metro Feb 21 workshop will be another test for ABC’s “team-oriented approach”.
I wonder what this means for Councillor Dominato and Meiszner? Both also did not “align with the shared priorities” of allowing fracked gas in buildings and made the right evidence-based choice to reduce emissions in new buildings and keep energy bills low for residents.
In October, #Paris Mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social and leaders reduced the speed limit on the famous Periphérique ring road from 70 to 50 km/h as part of the city's new climate plan. The goal was to reduce pollution, crashes and traffic jams.
So far, the results have been quite positive. #Leadership
The people of Ontario should be worried that they’ll be stuck paying for a stranded asset in the near future. We are finally transitioning off natural gas, and the sooner governments realize it, the better we’ll all be for our climate, health, and cost of living.
You can read the full NDP and Green cooperation agreement below #bcpoli
bcgreens2024.ca/wp-content/u...
As we know, by replacing gas furnaces with electric heat pumps, we’re not only helping consumers cut their residential climate pollution by more than 60%, they’ll also save on energy bills. And with our increasingly hot summers, they also provide much needed cooling! #climateaction
Some highlights:
It’s encouraging to see the commitment to accelerate the adoption of specifically electric heat pumps to bring down energy bills while tackling climate pollution, and in particular ensuring that they reach low and moderate-income households.
Today, the NDP & Greens signed a cooperation agreement. Included is a commitment of $50 million annually toward electric heat pumps for the next two fiscal years.
You can read @stand.earth’s full reaction to the recent announcement here: stand.earth/press-releas...
Photo of a crowd of folks in Vancouver standing together and holding a large yellow banner that reads “TOGETHER FOR A FOSSIL FREE FUTURE” with a bird and salmon painted on it. Some people in the crowd hold signs that read “SOLUTION NOT POLLUTION NO GAS IN NEW BUILDINGS” and “ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE GO BEYOND GAS”. Text reads “This is what people power looks like.” People power is highlighted in red. SAFE Cities logo in bottom right corner.
1/ Against all odds and a stacked city council, Vancouver not only defeated a dangerous gas industry proposal to allow gas in new buildings, but also strengthened the city’s climate and community safe building electrification policy.
How did this happen? Two words: People. Power. 🧵 #ClimateSky
Groups like Resource Works, Voice for Energy, and BC CADE need to be called out for what they really are: AstroTurf groups. These groups are undermining trust in public institutions like BC Hydro by spreading misinformation on electrification.
I appreciate the interview @geoffdembicki.bsky.social!
Thank you especially to councillors Rebecca Bligh, @lisadominato.bsky.social, @petermeiszner.bsky.social, @ptfry.bsky.social, and Adriane Carr for voting to continue on with Vancouver’s climate leadership. #vanpoli #climate
It was amazing to see such a huge turnout of so many passionate people who care for their city and climate. Thank you to the businesses, health practitioners, builders, and the people who showed up to speak + the countless emails and phone calls from residents to council! stand.earth/press-releas...
Hello Bluesky! For our very first post, we’ll be taking a look at Vancouver’s upcoming Nov 26th vote on whether to allow gas in new buildings #vanpoli
This Tuesday, council votes on whether to go back to allowing natural gas for heating buildings in Vancouver. I want to take a look at the stated reasons behind this move, and assess their accuracy. A bit of a long thread but an important one... 🧵
www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/t...
+eliminate gas heating in most new buildings in 2026 across the province! #vancouver, don’t vote to go backwards on November 26th! Council needs to oppose recommendation B (Path 2) if it wants to align its new buildings electrification policy with leading cities like Burnaby, Nanaimo, and Port Moody
Hey, Vancouver friends! Your help is needed on an upcoming climate vote.
Next Tuesday, Nov 26, City Council will vote on whether to let gas heating back into new buildings — a huge step backward for climate action & public health. We NEED your voice. Here's how to take action.👇