Climate Action

Climate change threatens our health and well-being

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the first step in addressing climate change, and will require the City and the community to take action together. 

City takes action

Recognizing the dangers posed by climate change, Burnaby City Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. This emergency declaration set new greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for the City for the next three decades:

  • 45% reductions by 2030
  • 75% reductions by 2040
  • carbon neutrality by 2050

Burnaby is now aligned with the targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to keep global temperature increases to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius. These targets are also consistent with targets set at the regional, provincial and national levels.

To ensure Burnaby meets these targets, we've developed a Climate Action Framework. Progress toward our targets is documented in the progress reports below:

The City of Burnaby participates in the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP). The LGCAP is a provincial government program that provides funding for municipalities to plan and implement actions that will reduce emissions, create new opportunities for people in the clean economy and prepare communities for future climate impacts. 

Read Burnaby’s LGCAP Year 2 Survey and Attestation Form.

Climate action framework

Burnaby's Climate Action Framework provides a roadmap for a cleaner future and must be supported over the long term by:

  • The City's strong and ambitious carbon pollution reduction targets, aligned with regional targets, that commit the City to an energy transition by or before 2050.
  • Easy to implement “Quick Starts” that will be updated as actions are completed and new actions identified.
  • Sustained resourcing for climate action, including in operating and capital budgets.
  • Support from the community–both residents and businesses.
  • Strong climate commitments, action and resourcing from senior governments.
  • Seven Big Moves and associated Quick Start Actions will accelerate Burnaby's climate action so the City's climate emergency targets can be met.

To reach the 2050 target, we need to make changes that will move us from “Business as Usual” to “Carbon Neutrality.” Actions required include:

  • constructing net-zero new buildings
  • retrofitting older buildings
  • increasing mobility choices
  • shifting to electric vehicles

But meeting our targets is not enough. We need others—including residents, industry, and marine and air transport companies—to also act to reduce emissions. And we'll support their transitions toward carbon neutrality. 

 

pathway-to-carbon-neutrality.jpeg
Caption: Carbon neutral 2050 scenario. This graph illustrates a feasible pathway to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 if we take the steps outlined in the Climate Action Framework. This pathway requires actions from all areas, especially building and transportation, the 2 most significant sources of emissions in Burnaby.

Big Moves

Our Climate Action Framework lays out 7 key areas of transition that we call “Big Moves.” Each Big Move targets a key source of emissions and identifies levers for change. These Big Moves collectively guide Burnaby’s climate actions—today and into the future.

News and updates

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