West Vancouver Energy Forum and Public Consultation

An evening of informed dialogue about climate change, including how to conduct economical energy retrofits on your own home with a panel of esteemed experts:

o Councilor Trish Panz (moderator) - Fossil Fuel Freedom: A View from Sweden;
o Dr. Stephen Sheppard (scientist & West Vancouver resident) - Local Solutions for a Changing World & The Choices We Can Make
o Helen Goodland (Executive Director, Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre) - Your Home & Your Wallet: Economical Home Retrofits
o Stephen Jenkins (Sustainability Manager) - Protecting & Improving West Vancouver's Waterfront
o Plus the draw for a FREE home energy audit!

Background

“Bill 27” & West Vancouver’s Official Community Plan

The District’s Climate Action Working Group (C.A.W.G.) and Planning Staff are working together to ensure West Vancouver is on track to reduce its climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions (“GHGs”). Our focus is on Transportation & Buildings, as described here.

“Bill 27” is new provincial legislation that requires local governments to create targets and action plans for GHG reduction in their Official Community Plan. At the Dec 7 Regular Council Meeting, Council passed the following motions:

THAT:

* The GHG reduction targets of, at least a 33% reduction below 2007 levels by 2020 and at least an 80% reduction by 2050, as proposed by the province be considered by the Climate Action Working Group to determine how they can be achieved in West Vancouver ; and
* Staff, in consultation with the C.A.W.G., consult with the community on these proposed targets prior to preparing and presenting a proposed Official Community Plan amendment on targets for the reduction of GHG emissions, and policies and actions proposed with respect to achieving the targets, as required under the Local Government Act, Section 877(3), known as “Bill 27”.

The Energy Fair & Forum is the first phase of public consultation for these proposed targets. The 2nd Phase of public consultation will occur in late March. Contact climateaction@westvancouver.ca or call 604-925-7178 if you would like to be included on our notification list for future public consultation events and activities. For more information , find out how OCP Policies Can Contribute to Climate Action.