Local candidates weigh in on climate  

On Oct 15 the Climate Hub hosted two online election events, giving candidates the chance to present their and their parties' best plans for protecting the environment and fighting climate change. 

Both events were recorded and can be watched on our YouTube channel. 

Watch the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows recorded event.

Watch the Maple Ridge-Mission recorded event. 

Your vote has never mattered more. The next four years is a critical time to put programs and policies in place that will affect our world for generations to come. So listen to your candidates, decide who will do the best job, and most important of all, make sure you vote. 

Council to receive climate action report   

At a special Council Workshop on Tuesday, Oct.20, Maple Ridge City Council will receive and discuss the long-awaited Community Energy & Emissions Scoping Report from City staff.

The report recommends that the City update its greenhouse gas emissions targets to align with recommendations published in 2018 by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. These targets are relative to 2010 levels, and they include:

• reducing emissions by 45% by 2030
• reducing emissions to net zero by 2050

The report further recommends that the City establish a new Community Development and Enterprise Services Advisory Committee to review the City's plans and public feedback, and provide recommendations.

This is a major step forward for Maple Ridge and we're excited to see it come before Council. 

You can review the full report on the City's website, and watch the meeting live or view the recording on the City's media livestream page.

Quick facts on BC's emissions & emitters

In case you're wondering why we're so ramped up about a Community Energy & Emissions report, here's a quick snapshot of where emissions stand today and how far we need to go in how very short a time. 

The Pembina Institute recently published a quick hit of info on how much carbon pollution enters the atmosphere from BC, and where it's all coming from. 

• B.C.’s total carbon pollution in 2018: 67.9 million tonnes (Mt)
• B.C.’s legislated target for carbon pollution in 2030: 36.5 Mt

• Share of B.C.’s carbon pollution from transportation: 36.6%
• Share of B.C.’s carbon pollution from industry: 35.1%
• Share of B.C.’s carbon pollution from upstream natural gas operations (production and distribution): 17.6%
• Share of B.C.’s carbon pollution from buildings: 12.2%

That's why we think it's high time we all – citizens and all levels of government – rolled up our sleeves and got to work. Thank you, Pembina Institute, this is helpful. Daunting, but helpful. 

Bye-bye plastic (?)   

The federal government recently announced its plan to ban certain types of harmful, single use plastic. Items on the proposed list include plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and food ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics. The feds also wants to require recycled content in products and packaging. 

While this is a good start at reducing plastic waste and pollution, some are disappointed that it fails to include plastic water bottles and other types of packaging. 

But we may be able to change that. Before the new regulations are finalized in 2021, the government wants to hear from Canadians on this approach. Comments will be accepted until Dec. 9 of this year.