Speakers

SPEAKER:  Ian Picketts -   Manager of Sustainability and Climate Change, District of Squamish                

TOPIC:        District of Squamish Climate Action Plan

In 2019, Mayor and Council of the District of Squamish declared a climate emergency and committed to creating a plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by 2030. The resultant Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) outlines 122 actions related to transportation, buildings and solid waste that will help Squamish to achieve its emissions reduction target. Actions in the CCAP include installation of a landfill gas collection system, creation of a deconstruction bylaw, transit expansions, EV readiness requirements, home retrofit supports and low-carbon building standards. This presentation will highlight some actions taken to date, challenges that have occurred along the way, and plans for a 2024 CCAP update.

BIO:             Ian Picketts is the Manager of Sustainability and Climate Change at the District of Squamish. In this role Ian is working to guide emissions reductions related to transportation, waste and buildings throughout the community. Ian is currently working on projects related to: improving deconstruction practices, reducing embodied carbon in buildings, expanding our landfill gas collection system, constructing EV infrastructure and bringing a team of youth to Squamish to work on climate change projects over the summer of 2024. Prior to joining the District Ian was a professor at Quest University for a number of years, where he coordinated the Physical Sciences Division and taught courses related to earth sciences, resource management and climate action. Ian’s academic research focused primarily on climate change adaptation in Canadian communities.

REFERENCES:  Climate Action - District of Squamish - Hardwired for Adventure