Mayor of Vancouver trying to get local businesses on-board with green goals
Posted September 28, 2015 7:39 am.
Last Updated September 28, 2015 7:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The mayor of Vancouver is challenging local businesses to sign a new pledge to fight climate change.
Gregor Robertson threw down the gauntlet yesterday during a trip to mark Climate Week in New York City.
There are three steps to Robertson’s pledge: calling for stronger climate action from national governments, supporting Vancouver’s move to 100 per-cent renewable energy and disclosing a business’s carbon-reduction or energy targets.
UBC political scientist Michael Byers says this will make Vancouver an environmental leader. “Not only that, [but] green energy promises lots of economic benefits — lots and lots of jobs, lots of technological innovation. The world is moving in this direction.”
Byers says while BC Hydro is already considered renewable energy, there is a chance for new economic development.
“Think about ballard energy and pioneering fuel cell technology decades ago — there’s been innovation in this province on renewable energy in the past and there’ll be a whole lot in the future.”
Ten businesses have signed on so far to disclose their carbon reduction or renewable-energy targets, including Telus, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Hootsuite, and the Vancouver Aquarium.
