City of Kamloops receives recognition for leadership in climate action

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops was recognized for outstanding community leadership in climate action.

During the annual Climate and Energy Action Awards presented at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention, Kamloops was presented with an honourable mention in community planning and development.

It’s for the City’s Big Moves Investments, which are funded by a Climate Action Levy of 0.35 per cent that will provide an estimated $24 million over 10 years to help complete the City’s Climate Action Plan goals.

“It will give our staff… monies to work with, but also, it’ll give them a pace upon which to design and build some of the infrastructure that’s needed,” Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian told Community Energy Association.

Christian credits the City’s sustainability and communications department in consulting the community about the consequences and impacts of Kamloops not meeting its environmental responsibilities.

“There was a public willingness to accept some levy, the real debate came around how big,” Christian says. “But nobody said there shouldn’t be a levy. Everybody at that point accepted the fact that if we do nothing, we will bare the consequences.”

This year is the 25^th anniversary of the Climate and Energy Action Awards program, which is presented by the Community Energy Association in association with the Government of B.C., BC Hydro, FortisBC, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, and UBCM.