On July 15th, Richmond City Council asked staff to reconsider their strong climate building bylaw in favour of re-introducing polluting methane gas in new buildings – potentially dismantling all the good progress made thus far. But it’s not too late to show our support for council’s original decision to be climate leaders!
In October 2023, the Zero Carbon Step Code was passed to ensure that new buildings are constructed to run on clean electricity in 2025 instead of polluting methane gas – tackling one of the biggest sources of climate pollution in cities. But predictably, representatives from FortisBC and other pro-fossil fuel lobby groups showed up at Richmond City Hall fighting tooth and nail to reverse this policy and keep hooking up gas lines to new homes.
Luckily, this is not a done deal. If enough of us raise our voice by calling on Richmond City Council to maintain the status quo, we can defend this climate bylaw from gas industry lobbyists and prevent pollution on a massive scale.
Emissions from homes are the third-largest source of carbon pollution in B.C. – approximately 40% of climate pollution in Richmond – and indoor gas appliances also hurt our health, so switching from fracked gas to clean electricity should be an obvious step. Already over two dozen communities from Langley to Burnaby to Nanaimo have taken the lead by passing low carbon construction policies. Richmond needs to continue being a leader on climate too.
Will you send an email to the Richmond Mayor and Council now telling them you support their strong Zero Carbon Step Code policy?
