Skip to content

Quick Peaks: August 7, 2013

Green award Powell River Regional District has been recognized for its efforts to take action on climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Green award

Powell River Regional District has been recognized for its efforts to take action on climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The regional district signed on to the Climate Action Charter in 2009, one part of which is making a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2012.

The recognition comes from a joint committee comprised of members from the provincial government and Union of BC Municipalities called the Green Communities Committee. It has a multi-level climate action recognition program. The regional district has completed the second level: measurement.

“We aren’t carbon neutral, but we have measured our carbon emissions,” said Linda Greenan, manager for financial services at the regional district. “It was quite involved and we hired GHG Accounting to help us with it.” The company helps clients measure carbon output, greenhouse gas emissions and makes recommendations about steps to take in reducing them.

According to Greenan, the carbon accounting firm plans to lead a workshop for staff and management at the regional district in September.

Greenan said more can be done. Stopping compostable organics from finding their way into the landfill would be a big step to reducing our carbon footprint, she said.

A feasibility study on picking up organics has been conducted and now the regional district is working with the City of Powell River to determine how much organic material could be collected from businesses.

“Once we get a quantity we can see if it’s feasible to put in an organics facility,” she said.

The award will allow the regional district to brand itself as a “green community.”