March 2019 | Trust Council Declares a Climate Emergency
Following its March Quarterly meeting, Trust Council issued a news release and backgrounder announcing it voted unanimously to join Vancouver, the Capital Regional District, Los Angeles, London, and a growing number of regional and local governments internationally in calling for an urgent response to the threats and costs posed by climate change.
Chair Correspondence followed:
What Effect does Climate Change Have on the Islands Trust Area?
Within the Islands Trust Area, climate change is having noticeable impacts, including:
- More extreme winter and summer temperatures;
- More extreme dry spells that result in drought and watershed concerns;
- Warmer ocean temperatures which can result in species migration changes, and shellfish safety warnings;
- More extreme weather events that result in flooding, wind damage, and erosion; and
- Sea level rise that may result in erosion and damage to archaeological sites and structures.
Islands Trust Area Ecosystems Play an Important Role in Mitigating Climate Change
The forests and eelgrass in the Islands Trust Area play a significant regional role in mitigating climate change. Through protecting and stewarding forests and eelgrass, Islands Trust Area communities and landowners have an important role in preventing climate change.
Islands Trust Area forests sequesters 190,506 tonnes of carbon per year, which equates to emissions from 40,240 passenger vehicles per year. If forests in the region are maintained, the Islands Trust Area has the capacity to be a major sink for carbon produced in the region.
Acting Locally to Help Transform the Future
Protecting the forests is only part of the equation in helping to reduce climate change.
Islanders are leading the way on climate action. Not only do we own electric cars at record-setting levels, we are also purchasing solar panels in bulk, and advocating for low-carbon transportation networks.
Many local trust committee, Bowen Island Municipality, and Islands Trust Conservancy decisions and projects support a transition to a low carbon future. Islands Trust climate actions are summarized in our annual climate action report.
Islands Trust Fact Sheets
Islands Trust Reports
Islands Trust Conservancy Reports
Bowen Island Municipality Reports and Resources
Regional District Climate Projection Reports
United Nations Climate Projections
Local climate change information
Information on Adaptation
