This summer has demonstrated that the effects of climate change are local, severe, and irreversible.
Governments and the private sector can no longer continue with business as usual – action is needed now to roll back our ghg emissions, fund adaptation, and work with indigenous people to re-learn ways of coping with major changes to the climate and environment.
In past years, so-called environmental issues have been given little budgetary attention, competing with a variety of other programs, needs, and policies in the provincial agenda.
It is clear that climate, forestry protection, and sustainability are now so closely interlinked with other social and economic issues that it is impossible to ignore.
While BC cannot do everything on our own, the experience of floods, fires, mudslides, COVID and other disruptive and costly disasters means that residents will be on the front lines of such changes and so rightly expect support and leadership from our government to address the underlying causes.
We echo the group’s claims concerning forestry and deforestation – the use of chemical herbicides and the clear cutting of old growth forests is unsustainable and should be ended.
Recognizing that budgetary decisions often involve trade-offs, we call on the BC government to properly fund programs for adaptation, climate mitigation, renewable energy, home retrofits, and alternative transportation options like public transit and electric vehicle charging stations.
These programs will ensure consumers, citizens and stakeholders can be supported in making the right choices for our future and our children’s future.