OCTOBER 2019

This past September, people in over 180 countries stepped up in support of young strikers for climate action. Inspired by Swedish teen climate activist, Greta Thunberg, school students all over the world have been organizing school strikes to demand urgent action on the climate and ecological crisis. 

On September 27, a Climate Strike event took place at Vancouver’s City Hall, organized by the Sustainabiliteens; a group of teens from across Metro Vancouver that are part of the international #fridaysforfuture and #climatestrike movement. 

City support for the Global General Strike for Climate was approved in a motion brought to Council on September 11. In April 2019, City Council also approved Ramping Up Vancouver’s Climate Action in Response to the Climate Emergency, committing the city to a five-fold increase in our efforts to tackle climate change and align local efforts with international recommendations. We identified six big moves and 53 quick-start actions to dramatically reduce carbon pollution, as well as sequester carbon through conservation efforts. 

YOUR TURN

Students continue to protest climate change by striking every Friday. Support the movement by finding a Climate Strike event near you or posting your support on social media. 

Learn more about the City’s Climate Emergency Response. 

Vancouver will soon embark on developing a comprehensive climate response plan that will stretch to the year 2030. Watch your inbox for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook so you can be part of the conversation.

SUPPORTING: GREENEST CITY, CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Celebrated each year on October 16, #WorldFoodDay is one of the biggest days in the UN calendar. Events are held in up to 150 countries and bring together businesses, NGOs, media agencies, and cities and civil society organizations.

This year, World Food Day (WFD) is raising awareness of the importance of healthy diets and calling for urgent action across sectors to make healthy diets available and affordable to everyone with the theme “Our actions are our future. Healthy diets for a #ZeroHunger world”.

YOUR TURN

Honour World Food Day this year by:

• Choosing one food action to take on. Find ideas on the FAO website.
• Coming out to the Vancouver Food Policy Council’s film screening on October 16. 
• Joining celebrations across the city, including a World Food Day celebration on October 16. Check out a full list of events and activities in celebration of food, culture and sustainability on the Sustenance Festival website. 

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE AND RENEWABLES, LOCAL FOOD

• Bring a broken or worn out item and learn how to fix it at a Repair Workshop on October 19, at City Hall.
• Waste less food and save money in the kitchen. Love Food Hate Waste is here to provide tips for meal planning, using up leftovers and storing food properly so it lasts longer.
• Opt for cloth bags and glass or metal reusable bottles instead of plastic shopping bags and bottled water. Find out what the City is doing to reduce single use item waste.
• Register for the Zero Waste Conference on October 30 -31 and learn what Canada is doing to be successful in a global circular economy.

With autumn weather now upon us, make sure you know how to properly dispose of fall leaves and yard waste.

Clear away leaves from your yard and sidewalk and put them in your Green Bin for collection by City staff. Any extra leaves that do not fit in your Green Bin should be stored in a dry place and then added to your Green Bin after it is emptied. There will also be four designated weekends for extra leaf collection where paper yard waste bags will also be picked up. The first weekend is October 26 and 27. 

You can also clear fallen leaves out of City catch basins (or storm drains) to reduce street flooding during stormy weather.

YOUR TURN

Be sure to educate neighbours on the correct way of disposing of leaves. If you see anyone dropping leaves on curbs or boulevards, encourage them to use their Green Bin.

Learn more about how collected leaves become nutrient-rich compost in the Vancouver Landfill, and buy some for your garden.

Drop off any extra leaves or yard trimmings at:

• Vancouver South Transfer Station, 377 West Kent Ave North
• Vancouver Landfill and Recycling Depot, 5400 72nd Street in Delta

 
SUPPORTING: LIGHTER FOOTPRINT, ZERO WASTE