Force of Nature

We are in the critical decade for climate action. The District of North Vancouver (DNV) has shown leadership with its climate emergency declaration and commitment to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. A large part of this will be transitioning away from fossil fuels as an energy source in buildings. On June 15 2020, the DNV Council approved a recommendation from Councillor Megan Curren to set Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI) limits for new buildings in the distr...ict when rezoning is required. Capilano University has recently announced their intention to build a six - storey 362 bed student housing building on Tantalus Road on the campus (https://dailyhive.com//capilano-university-student-housing). We are excited to see that the University intends to set high building standards. We would like to see them be a leader by following GHGI Limits and making the building fossil-fuel free. Our goal is to push CAP U and the DNV to set GHGI limits for this building and all future buildings. Our hope is to enlist members of the community who support this goal. Interested in getting involved? Sign up to get more information https://www.forceofnaturealliance.ca/caputantalusproject

On Nov. 3, Vancouver city council will vote on this MASSIVE package of climate legislation called the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP). It has the potential to enormously reduce emissions in Vancouver and prevent warming from exceeding 1.5C, averting the most catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis. It includes ideas like: - Accelerating the transition from natural gas heating, responsible for around 60% of emissions in Vancouver - Building walkable communities a...nd extending access for everyone - Implementing equitable transport pricing to disincentive car use in areas where low-carbon alternatives are readily available - Investing in our bus network to make it faster and more reliable - Placing equity at the centre of our climate legislation To support council in passing this legislation, we've set up this letter-writing tool so you can easily send a letter to council in support of the plan: https://www.forceofnaturealliance.ca/ceap If you care at all about climate and equity issues, we STRONGLY encourage you to send a letter! This legislation has the potential to be deeply consequential, and will set the stage for climate action in Vancouver for the next decade. Click the link! Do it! It’s easy!

We are going to the polls again in British Columbia and hopefully the outcome is a government that will take action on climate change. Force of Nature has made a selection of candidates to endorse for some key ridings around the province. Please get out to vote in this important election. By voting for someone who cares about the environment, you are sending a message to government that climate change is a priority! Vote today October 24th between 8am and 8pm. To find your voting location, visit elections bc website. https://elections.bc.ca/voting/where-to-vote/

Check out this youth candidate forum coming up this Wednesday!

Re-electrify public transportation!

It seems like a lot of municipalities put a pause on climate action in order to deal with the pandemic. It's good to see some forward movement in Port Moody! Single use plastics are absolutely something we should be able to phase out as part of managing solid waste in Metro Vancouver.

Electrification of public transportation systems would go a long way to cutting our carbon emissions.

Glad to see that the City of New Westminster has got its priorities straight. If only the rest of Metro Vancouver would follow suit!

Harrison is a great activist and organizer. Check out this article in the Georgia Straight!

Images from Surrey For Future's banner drop in Surrey yesterday. This Surrey based team is part of the Force of Nature alliance of community action teams. We're always trying to connect with community groups across Metro Vancouver so we can share resources, skills, and sometimes coordinate larger actions. Get in touch!

The faster the better, but this is a big, bold step in the right direction. Any chance we can get what the Brits are having?

Check out this action to support our friends over at the Sustainabiliteens Vancouver!

Congratulations to the dedicated activists in the Hume park tree sit! An inspiring act of resistance that should inspire us all to step up and do our part.

Live in Surrey? The Surrey for Future - the Force of Nature Community Action Team in Surrey - is trying to ensure a motion going before council to protect the "Green City Fund" gets passed this month. That fund uses money from developers to plant trees throughout the city. If you are a city resident, please consider writing to council! https://www.surreyforfuture.ca/greencityfund If you aren't in Surrey, does your city have something like this? Should it? (Hint: yes)

Have you checked out the camp at Hume park?

The City of New West has been rolling out signage to support their "Cool Streets" initiative. Check it out! Credit to councillor Nadine Nakagawa for photographing these 'in the wild.'

What a difference a year can make! Treating cars as guests means safer, more community oriented public spaces. You can learn more about the Rotenturmstraße "Encounter Zone" here: https://wien.orf.at/stories/3021480/

CBC Radio is in the middle of a series on Climate Change. You can check out past episodes online and listen for new ones on the radio (or stream at your leisure). Check it out!