Whistler council is set to receive an update on the community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) performance trends at its Sept. 1 meeting.
According to a staff report to council, Whistler’s GHG emissions totalled 131,166 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019—a four-per-cent increase over 2018.
Passenger vehicle emissions continue to be the worst polluter, accounting for 54 per cent of Whistler’s GHG emissions, followed by natural gas at 35 per cent.
Community energy consumption was also up three per cent year over year.
On the corporate side, direct GHG emissions from Resort Municipality of Whistler operations decreased five per cent, while emissions from contractors saw a 55-per-cent increase, attributed in the staff report to “the inclusion of solid waste transportation to the Surrey rail yard from where it is transported to the Rabanco landfill.”
The report also includes an update on Whistler’s Community Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP).
As of Q2 2020, nine of its initiatives are now completed, 31 are ongoing, 67 are in progress and 27 are not yet initiated.
This represents a small change from Q4 2019 where “(eight) initiatives were completed, 30 ongoing, 68 in progress and 27 not yet initiated,” read the staff report.
“The need to accelerate Whistler’s climate action is clear, and the Climate Action Big Moves Strategy prioritizes what needs to be done in our community.”
Read more about the Big Moves Strategy here: https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler-news/whistler-big-moves-climate-action-2549120.
Find the full 2019 GHG report in the Sept. 1 council package starting on page 20: https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-gov/council/meeting-agendas-and-minutes
Pick up Thursday’s Pique for more from council.
