IN THIS ISSUE

April 22 is Earth Day – a celebration of climate action to protect and enhance the health of our communities, air, waterways, ecosystems and wildlife. This year’s theme: “Our Power, Our Planet”, invites everyone to advocate for the transition to renewable energy.

Burning natural gas for building heating and hot water contributes to about 55% of carbon pollution generated in Vancouver. Today, we’re recognizing the continued progress to expand the supply of clean, renewable energy to homes and businesses across Vancouver:

• Over 98% of the power generated for B.C.’s electrical grid comes from renewable sources – mostly hydroelectricity, as well as wind, solar and biomass power. With new solar and wind projects recently greenlit, B.C.’s supply of renewable energy is growing to power half a million new homes and improve energy-resilience and employment opportunities in partnership with First Nations.
• Neighbourhood renewable energy systems are part of the solution. In 2010, the False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility became the first district energy project in North America to recover waste thermal energy from sewage to provide low-carbon, affordable space heating and hot water. With recent expansions to triple its sewage heat recovery capacity, the NEU serves a growing number of buildings around False Creek.
• Opportunities for building-scale renewable solar energy are growing, with rebates for solar panels and battery storage of up to $10,000 available through BC Hydro’s self-generation program.
• Renewable natural gas (RNG), which comes from biogas captured through organic waste decomposition, gives natural gas customers the option to reduce carbon pollution without replacing equipment.

YOUR TURN

Check out these upcoming Earth Day events and take part in climate action all April:

• Earth Day Celebration at Trout Lake Community Centre, April 12
• Eco-Voyage Workshop presented by BEST Mobility at Central VPL, April 22
• Earth Fest at Everett Crowley Park, April 26
• Earth Day Ravine Health Check Up at Renfrew Park Community Centre, April 27

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY, CLIMATE ADAPTATION

Do you have an idea for a project in your neighbourhood to support local climate action?

The Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grant (GCNSG) supports small-scale resident-led projects that help advance the City of Vancouver’s goals under the Climate Emergency Action Plan and the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Up to $500 is available to support your climate action in the following priority areas:

• Making homes and buildings more energy efficient
• Promoting climate-friendly forms of transportation like walking, biking and rolling
• Caring for our forests, wetlands and other natural climate solutions
• Educating about local climate impacts and solutions 
• Preparing for climate change-related extreme weather events 
• Advancing climate equity and justice in communities disproportionately impacted by climate change

The GCNSG is offered in partnership with Vancouver Foundation and is administered through Vancouver’s Neighbourhood Houses.

YOUR TURN
Applications for Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grants are now open. Learn more, get inspired with project ideas, and apply here.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY, CLIMATE ADAPTATION

Looking to connect with your community while making a positive impact on the environment?

Come learn about the variety of stewardship programs run by the City of Vancouver, Park Board and local non-profits and organizations at the Seeding Stewardship Fair on May 3. Drop by to discover ways you can engage in local environmental stewardship, with booths, guest speakers and hands-on activities including a walking tour of the new “Gibby’s Field” park, tips for fostering pollinator-friendly communities, ways to support healthy waterbodies in your neighbourhood and more!

Green spaces play an important role in our response to climate change by helping remove carbon pollution from our atmosphere and enhancing our resilience to increasingly frequent extreme rainfall and extreme heat events.

YOUR TURN
Attend the free Seeding Stewardship Fair taking place May 3, 10am-2pm, at Clark Park.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE ADAPTATION

May 4 to 10 is Emergency Preparedness Week, a national awareness initiative providing an opportunity to ensure you’re prepared to care for yourself, your family and community during emergencies.

Climate change is impacting the severity and frequency of hazards including extreme heat, poor air quality from wildfire smoke, extreme rainfall, drought and coastal flooding. Not everyone is exposed to these hazards in the same way. Knowing how hazards can impact where you live, work or spend time, can inform your emergency plan and help reduce disruptions to your life.

YOUR TURN

Are you ready to prepare for climate change-related hazards and refresh your emergency preparedness knowledge this Emergency Preparedness Week? Here’s how:

• Attend a free, online emergency preparedness workshop on May 8 or watch the 20-minute video recording.
• Learn how hazards have impacted Vancouver in the past and what we can expect in the future with our interactive Hazard & Risk Explorer. 
• Share printable hazard fact sheets on how to prepare for some of Vancouver’s top hazards with your community, available in 12 languages.
• Make your own DIY Air Cleaner to stay safe from wildfire smoke, instructions available in 12 languages.
• Build resilience against hazards and plan together with your neighbours using the Resilient Neighbourhood Toolkit. Communities that are more connected before an emergency recover quicker from disasters.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE ADAPTATION, RESILIENT VANCOUVER