PITT MEADOWS, B.C. – The City is developing a Climate Action Strategy that will serve as a guide to building a resilient and sustainable future for Pitt Meadows and is inviting community members to participate in its development.
“Our community is already feeling the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, and it is essential that we take proactive steps to address these challenges,” says Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald. “The Climate Action Strategy will be a vital tool in ensuring that Pitt Meadows remains a safe, healthy and resilient place to live for future generations.”

The strategy will focus on two key goals: preparing Pitt Meadows for climate impacts; and reducing pollution in the form of greenhouse gas emissions. By considering areas such as buildings and energy, infrastructure, health and wellbeing, emergency management, water and waste, transportation and mobility, and the local economy and agriculture, the City seeks to reduce risks associated with extreme weather, water shortages, wildfires and flooding.

The City is already working hard on several climate change initiatives, and these efforts will lay the groundwork for our comprehensive Climate Action Strategy. A snapshot of what we are doing includes:
·         Developing an Urban Forest Strategy to grow a resilient urban forest;
·         Valuing and protecting our natural assets with the help of our Environmental Inventory and Management Strategy;
·         Encouraging energy-efficient buildings by adopting the Energy Step Code;
·         Making it easier to walk, bike and use public transit through our Active Transportation Plan;
·         Amending our bylaws to require new developments to be ready for electric vehicle charging;
·         Creating neighborhoods where residents can live, work and play without relying on cars through our Official Community Plan (OCP);
·         Reducing waste by diverting organic waste from landfills;
·         Preparing for climate impacts by assessing and mitigating flood risks, establishing wildfire protection guidelines and enforcing floodplain building regulations;
·         Responding to extreme weather by establishing cooling centres, promoting water conservation and maintaining pump stations; and
·         Supporting local agriculture through comprehensive planning and sustainability through our award-winning Agricultural Viability Strategy.

“The success of our Climate Action Strategy relies heavily on the input and participation of as many community members as possible,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “We are committed to creating a strategy that is both comprehensive and inclusive, reflecting the diverse needs and impacts in our City.”

To ensure the strategy reflects the community's needs, the City is launching a series of engagement opportunities over the upcoming months. A survey is now open until Sunday, September 22, and the City encourages all residents, interested parties and members of q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nation to share their perspectives and experiences. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to engage with the project team at the Pitt Meadows Farmers Market on Tuesday, August 27.
Learn more and complete the survey at pittmeadows.ca/climate.

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For more information please contact:
Tia O’Grady
Manager of Communications and Civic Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
media@pittmeadows.ca