Nanaimo City Council Key Climate Initiatives

On Monday, December 14th, the Nanaimo City Council passed three key climate initiatives that will be instrumental in the establishment and reinforcement of an effective system of climate policies within the city and RDN. 
The three initiatives were as follows:

1. Approval of funding for a Manager of Sustainability

• The city needs a dedicated person to oversee the City’s climate change adaptation, mitigation, and environmental protection initiatives to ensure that such policies are implemented. 
  

2. Adoption of the doughnut economics framework

• Doughnut economics regards the performance of an economy by the extent to which the needs of the people are met without overshooting the Earth’s ecological means. 
  

3. Approval of maximum funding for active transportation infrastructure

• Proposed budget items include funding for improved pedestrian infrastructure and completion of the Albert. St. bike path connecting VIU with the downtown core. 

These three initiatives were endorsed by the Nanaimo Climate Action Society in coordination with City Councilors Ben Geselbracht and Tyler Brown, with confidence that they will catalyze a more climate active and resilient city (serving in accordance to the City of Nanaimo’s Climate Change Resilience Strategy).
Adoption of the doughnut economics framework was the most contentious proposal, and perhaps the biggest win. After a lengthy debate the motion passed with a narrow 5:4 margin! Nanaimo is now the first city in Canada to adopt the doughnut model. We received feedback from city council that our email campaign in the days leading up to the vote made a real difference, giving council members confidence that Nanaimo is ready for bold solutions. This event, like the many similar ones that have preceded it around the world, demonstrates the power of ordinary people getting organized and engaging in their democracy.