More car sharing and fewer homes powered by natural gas.
Those are some of the ideas local climate action group Force of Nature would like to see addressed by Port Coquitlam as the city updates is 10-year old Corporate and Community Climate Action Plan.
This week the city announced that citizens can have input into the plan beginning Nov. 15, when a survey opens for comment.
Erik Minty, whose group recently asked people what's stopping them from ditching their cars, said he welcomed the renewed plan, and hoped "creative" ideas would be used to gather even more public input.
He would like to see the city hold town hall meetings, showcases and meet with people directly at farmer's markets and other gatherings so people can delve more deeply into the subject and get more of an idea about what the city plans to do.
He cited Port Moody, which has already costed out its climate plan, as an example of good community engagement.
In its news release, the city promises to do more consultation once the results of the survey are analyzed in 2022. The final plan is supposed to be updated in 2022, as well.
Among the things Force of Nature would like the city to do is work to bring more car sharing, such as Evo and Modo, into the city.
Noting PoCo only has two Modo cars, compared to 10 in Port Moody and 20 in Coquitlam, Minty said car sharing can reduce reliance on personal car ownership and the need for parking spaces, while also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
However, Minty warned it's important to have alternative modes of transportation in place before reducing parking requirements, otherwise "You end up with what they have Burnaby, which is is these awful parking wars."
In its release, the city notes it is advocating for SkyTrain to the city and electrifying its vehicle fleet, among a number of other initiatives.
Minty said he would also like to see the city consider banning natural gas hookups in new construction to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
He also hopes the city will sign on to the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty to spur action on climate change goals.
The city meanwhile, lists a number of recent accomplishments and has budgeted new ones on the climate change file, including a new forest management plan with a tree canopy target and planting strategy, assessment of local watercourses and updating the city’s greenhouse gas targets and reduction plan.
It also promises to consult with kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation and other key stakeholders, do technical assessments and best practice research, and study climate science and trend analysis, as it develops the draft plan over the coming months.
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