COQUITLAM, BC, October 23, 2023 – As Coquitlam continues to work on initiatives to support a strong and resilient future, the City is inviting the public to learn more and help shape the Climate Action Plan.
From now until late November, the City’s environment team will be looking to hear from those who live, work, learn and play in Coquitlam on their thoughts, barriers and opportunities when it comes to reducing carbon pollution. As municipalities are often on the front lines of preparing for and responding to climate events and impacts, Coquitlam’s goal is to create a plan that will provide a flexible, achievable, and balanced approach for the City to achieve its 2030 climate targets.
How to Get Involved
Throughout October and November, there will be various opportunities for public input. A community survey is available at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/ClimatePlan and the City’s environment team will be available to talk about the project at a number of pop-up events throughout the community (dates, times and locations will be listed on the project page).
Two online sessions also allow residents to learn about the plan:
- Wednesday, November 1 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. [Register]
- Monday, November 6 from noon to 1:00 p.m. [Register]
To stay informed and participate in the engagement process, visit the project page at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/ClimatePlan.
Public input will be balanced along with research, technical analysis, best practices, budget other City plans and strategies such as the Environmental Sustainability Plan to create a Climate Action Plan that reflects the needs and priorities of community members, and the long-term sustainability and resiliency of Coquitlam. The plan is expected to be finalized in 2024.
What is the Climate Action Plan?
Climate change is now an everyday reality. Hotter summers, floods, storms and other events as a result of carbon pollution affect our residents in a multitude of ways. They also impact the City’s ability to provide services and maintain infrastructure.
In 2020, the City adopted the Climate Adaptation Strategic Plan. This long-term strategy reduces the City’s vulnerabilities to climate change impacts by identifying the actions we can take to reduce risks associated with seven climate events.
Building on that, in 2022 the City approved the Environmental Sustainability Plan which outlined targets for GHG emission reductions of 45% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Through the Environmental Sustainability Plan, the development of a Climate Action Plan was identified as a top 10 priority for advancing this work.
The Climate Action Plan will help advance our actions to mitigate climate pollution through reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) focusing on four key areas: how we build, how we move, how we consume and how we steward.
Learn more at http://letstalkcoquitlam.ca/ClimatePlan.
Coquitlam’s Commitment to Climate Action
Coquitlam is committed to taking action on climate change by promoting practices that reduce greenhouse gases, conserve energy and improve resilience both for City operations and across the community.
Coquitlam’s Environmental Sustainability Plan lays out a flexible framework to guide decisions and ensure the long-term resiliency and sustainability of the community. The Plan is organized into five themes, each with their own goals and detailed actions: Climate Action, Built Environment, Waste Management, Water Management and Natural Areas, Wildlife and Habitat.
Media contact:
Caresse Selk
Manager, Environment
604-927-3536
cselk@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.