New Westminster – In March 2019, the City of New Westminster declared a climate emergency. In response to the climate emergency, New Westminster City Council has endorsed a 2020 Climate Action Budgeting Framework for the City’s 2020 budget process, as well as seven bold steps to guide the process with the goal of moving New Westminster towards a zero carbon future by 2050.

“Our immediate response to the climate emergency is crucial,” said Mayor Jonathan X. Coté. “In order to reduce our greenhouse gases significantly, we need to keep climate top of mind as we plan our budget and prioritize items on our strategic plan.”

The 2020 Climate Action Budgeting Framework builds on New Westminster’s climate emergency declaration earlier this year, as well as the 2019 – 2022 Strategic Plan. The framework and related principles will guide staff efforts to align City resources with Council’s direction and help drive the 2020 budget process. Included in the framework is an equity lens to ensure focused climate action for New Westminster’s vulnerable residents.

The seven bold steps are:

1.       Carbon-Free Corporation

2.       Car-Light Community

3.       Carbon-Free Homes and Buildings

4.       Pollution-Free Vehicles

5.       Carbon-Free Energy

6.       Robust Urban Forest

7.       People-Centred Public Realm

“These seven steps are vital in helping us view our strategic plan through a climate emergency lens,” said Lisa Spitale, Chief Administrative Officer at the City of New Westminster. “We feel aggressive action is required to achieve the targets we’ve set to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”

Through the 2020 budget process, City staff will now focus on identifying the projects, plans, and strategic initiatives that can be prioritized to better accomplish the City’s 2050 climate emergency targets. To learn more, visit www.newwestcity.ca/climateemergency.

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