Greenhouse Gas Emissions

GHG Emissions

GHG emissions are produced when we operate municipal cars, fire trucks, street sweepers and lawn mowers, light up sports fields, municipal hall and streetlights and heat municipal swimming pools and municipal buildings.

Community GHG Emissions

In 2020, Metro Vancouver amended the GHG reduction targets in the current Regional Growth Strategy. On May 25, 2021, the City of Maple Ridge amended the Official Community Plan to align municipal targets to net-zero by 2050 from 2010 levels, with an interim target of 45% reduction by 2030.

Corporate GHG Emissions

Maple Ridge has committed to reducing our corporate GHG emissions 33% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 from 2007 levels. Measuring our progress is an important part of ensuring reduction of energy consumption and the corresponding greenhouse gases through maintenance, procedural, mechanical and behavioural changes as we work towards becoming carbon neutral.

Climate Action Charter

Under the Climate Action Charter, a joint Provincial - Union of BC Municipalities Green Communities Committee (GCC) was created. The mandate of the GCC is to ensure effective implementation of charter commitments and to go further to ensure that local governments have the necessary tools and support to address climate change. Over 170 local governments in British Columbia signed the British Columbia Climate Action Charter (Charter).

Maple Ridge's Council voluntarily became a signatory to the British Columbia Climate Action Charter and by doing so, Maple Ridge has committed to being a carbon neutral operation, to participating in measuring GHGs in the community and supporting the development of complete, compact communities.

Climate Action Plan

The Province of British Columbia is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 16% below 2007 levels by 2025, 40% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 80% by 2050. Through the development of the Climate Action Plan (Bill 44), the province has implemented a range of initiatives related to climate change and environmental management, including the Green Communities Initiative.

Green Communities Act

In May, 2008, Bill 27, the Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Amendment Act, was enacted by the provincial government. The intent of this bill is to facilitate more sustainable initiatives within British Columbia municipalities when planning and managing land use by having them consider climate issues and energy conservation approaches. Through this legislation, the Local Government Act was amended to require each municipality to establish targets, policies and actions for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As a result, the City includes GHG targets, tracking and communication in the Official Community Plan (OCP). A list of Official Community Plan Policies (PDF) that support GHG emission reductions are included in the OCP.