Below are current actions in addition to those reported in the Ocean Watch - 2020 Edition. Link here to the Ocean Watch article.

+ 7.1 Invest in efficient, regular public transit options in the Sea to Sky corridor.

+ 7.2 Invest in renewable energy and green infrastructure.

+7.3 Where not already done, local governments should declare a climate emergency to enable council and staff to dedicate the resources required to immediately reduce communitywide GHG emissions.

+7.4 Conduct a baseline GHG emission inventory for each community to identify the largest emitters, with ongoing monitoring and reporting of community-wide emissions beginning in 2020 to track success.

  • Gambier Island Local Trust Committee, Village of Lions Bay, District of Squamish resolved to pilot the Zero Carbon Challenge. Winter 2020 A UN-backed global campaign aimed at rallying non-state actors – including companies, cities, regions, financial and educational institutions – to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time.

  • My Sea to Sky has received funding for a pilot project that aims to track and report annual greenhouse gas emissions for the communities within the Howe Sound watershed. This will support evidence-based climate action planning and enable local governments to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by better targeting policies and public outreach. The project will commence June 2021 and be completed in May 2022.

  • District of Squamish is working with My Sea to Sky to test Climate Action Report Card Tool.

+7.5 Work with large businesses to advise on how to decrease their carbon footprint.

+7.6 Create a climate action plan to prioritize policies and actions that will be most effective at reducing community-wide GHG emissions. Identify challenges and opportunities and establish key evaluation criteria to evaluate success.

  • District of Squamish hires Sustainability Coordinator to lead the Climate Action Committee and implement UN Sustainability Goals - Summer 2020
  • Village of Lions Bay established a Climate Action Committee to review targets and establish new goals and actions.

  • The Town of Gibsons is working towards a corporate climate action plan for 2022 and is assisting the Sunshine Coast Regional District staff in the development of a regional climate action plan beginning in 2022. On October 5, 2021, the Town of Gibsons pledged to participate in the Cities Race to Zero.

  • The Squamish Nation are working towards a strategic Climate Action plan to be completed by 2024. The framework is set and community consultations have begun.

  • The Sunshine Coast Regional District has begun developing a community climate change adaptation planning project. This is the first step of the Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) process.

  • In October 2021, the Town of Gibsons signed a pledge agreement with the “Cities Race to Zero” campaign. Race to Zero is a global campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. Moving forward, actions the Town has pledged to take to help reach our net-zero target include: Create green and healthy streets • Reduce air pollution and ensure clean air • Develop zero-carbon buildings • Move toward resilient and sustainable energy systems • Advance toward zero waste • Create sustainable food systems

  • The Town of Gibsons is already taking action to lower their CO2 emissions, through initiatives such as our organic waste program, active transportation upgrades, the Healing Forest, and our adoption of the BC Energy Step Code and Tree Preservation Bylaw.

  • District of Squamish completed and is implementing actions and initiatives within its Community Climate Action Plan (2020), which establishes a framework of Six Big Moves in the areas of housing, transportation, and waste management. Following the CCAP completion, the District completed a Municipal Energy and Emissions Plan (2021), which provides a roadmap to reducing GHG emissions for all District operations. The MEEP seeks to reduce municipal emissions by 68% reduction from 2030 business as usual projections. https://squamish.ca/climateaction/

  • On April 20, 2021 District of Squamish Zoning Bylaw 2200, 2011 Amendment Bylaw (Low Carbon Incentive Program) No. 2807, 2021 was adopted in order to establish a Low Carbon Incentive intended to minimize the environmental impact of housing development in Squamish by discouraging the use of high-carbon energy sources used in residential construction. https://squamish.ca/yourgovernment/projects-and-initiatives/2020-zoning-bylaw-update/low-carbon-incentive/

  • June 2021 - The District of Squamish passed the Demolition Waste Diversion Bylaw to provide financial incentives for builders to reduce waste and recycle demolition materials during the demolition process. https://squamish.ca/our-services/garbage-and-waste-diversion/industrial-commercial-institutional/construction-and-demolition-waste/