LiveSmart BC Community Feature
Whistler Funds Climate Action
“The Olympic Games are coming to Whistler and there is a strong desire in the community for everyone to do their part to make this the greenest games possible,” says Naomi Devine, the Whistler2020 Sustainability Coordinator.
It’s the kind of momentum that she has been leveraging for local climate action efforts.
In July, Whistler became the first municipality in B.C. to approve a policy that directs its carbon tax rebate from the provincial Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program to reducing emissions in both the community and municipal operations.
“We wanted to show that we are serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” says Devine.
Whistler is eligible for the rebate as an early signatory to the Climate Action Charter, and has already received its first payment from the province. As a signatory, the municipality has committed to becoming carbon neutral in corporate operations by 2012, as well as measuring community wide greenhouse gas emissions.
“We would like to see other municipalities across B.C. adopt a similar policy for their Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program rebate to help reduce emissions across the province.”
The first round of funding will be distributed to the Whistler Chamber of Commerce to support local business participation in the Climate Smart program in the fall of 2009. The Whistler Centre for Sustainability will be the host partner for the workshops.
Devine says local businesses are enthusiastic about Climate Smart, a comprehensive, business case-based training that takes enterprises through the process of creating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and developing effective energy and emissions reduction strategies with a focus on cost savings and brand lift.
“We wanted to have a measureable impact on reducing emissions in Whistler’s commercial sector, which is responsible for approximately 30 per cent of our community emissions, and the best way to do that is create capacity in this sector for understanding carbon contribution,” she says. “Once a company’s carbon footprint is understood, it is in a better position to take effective action on reducing the emissions associated with its business.”
Climate Smart is designed to provide businesses with the tools to become more competitive in an era of carbon regulation and volatile energy prices.
For more information, visit Climate Smart, the Climate Action Charter and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
