Environment & Climate Change

Local governments are invited to submit an expression of interest to participate in the Inclusive Climate Action for Tunisian Municipalities (ICATM) program, which runs from March 2024 to February 2029. Implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and its Tunisian partner, the International Development Center for Innovative Local Governance (CILG), this initiative focuses on strengthening the climate resilience of Tunisian municipalities while promoting equity and inclusion.

Local government officials and staff who would like to provide input on topics and areas of focus for a review of the Environment Assessment Act are encouraged to share their feedback by Wednesday, September 11, 2024. UBCM and local governments were recently notified by the Province that a legislative review of the Act is scheduled to begin in December 2024.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Province enacted new plastic waste regulations. These regulations aim to limit the amount of plastic waste entering landfills and reduce the environmental impact of microplastics through additional prohibitions on single-use plastics.

BC Hydro has announced a new incentive program that will offer rebates for the installation of rooftop solar and battery-storage systems in residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Beginning in July 2024, the program will provide up to $10,000 rebates for homeowners and $50,000-$150,000 rebates for local governments, schools, and businesses.

 

Last week, the Province introduced From Flood Risk to Resilience: a BC Flood Strategy to 2035. The Flood Strategy outlines the Province’s direction for flood management, and includes 25 concepts to improve flood resilience. While the UBCM membership has consistently requested that the Province be established as the diking authority in all local governments, the Flood Strategy confirms that the Province will not assume this role.

The provincial government has released its summary of the 2023 provincial wildfire season, confirming the record-setting level of destruction. This season saw more than 2.84 million hectares burned across BC, which is more than double the area of forest and land that was burned during any previous year on record.

Between April 1 and October 31, British Columbia experienced 2,245 wildfires: