The Livable Blog

From today's Wilderness Committee E-lert:

Friday Deadline for Regional Growth Strategy Feedback
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Metro Vancouver has released a Regional Growth Strategy which is an update to the Livable Region Strategic Plan. This plan will have broad implications for the future of the region and beyond.

The principles and goals of the plan are laudable but there are a few reasons to be concerned. Although Metro Vancouver has opposed the Gateway Project highway development plan, the Regional Growth Strategy assumes this project will be built as proposed. The
highway expansion included in the plan, and the lack of clear credible and measurable emission reduction targets makes it difficult to see how the Regional Growth Strategy can reach its legally mandated commitments under the provincial Climate Action
Plan.

By law, BC is required to reduce emissions 33% by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050. Taking into consideration projected population growth in the region that means a 90% reduction by 2050.

However, currently 35% of carbon emissions in BC come from automobiles therefore meeting our targets means reducing automobile dependence.

Highway expansion for increased truck traffic would induced even more traffic congestion and more car dependent development.

By comparison, to meet their emission reduction goals, Washington State has decided to set hard targets for reducing automobile use. Washington's Bill 2815 requires an 18 per cent reduction in distance traveled per capita by 2020 and a 50 per cent reduction by 2050.

If you would like to join with the Wilderness Committee in calling for Metro Vancouver to adopt targets at least as good as Washington State's you can visit http://www.metrovancouver.org/region/PublicConsultations/Pages/RGSFeedbackSurvey.aspx

You could also consider writing to your local municipal government about this issue or you could write a letter to the editor.

You can read the full strategy document or the summary here http://public.metrovancouver.org/planning/development/strategy/Pages/default.aspx
For information on the campaign to stop the Gateway project visit www.gatewaytowhat.org

Thanks,
Ben West
Healthy Communities Campaigner
Wilderness Committee

You can subscribe to WC Elerts at http://www.wildernesscommittee.org/act/wcalerts/