Metro Vancouver is considering cuts to its climate programs, including greenhouse gas regulation and air quality monitoring—critical services that protect public health and help our region adapt to climate change. In response, CAPE sent a letter to the Metro Vancouver Board, urging them to reject these cuts and continue investing in climate action. These programs account for just 1% of Metro Vancouver’s budget, yet they play a vital role in reducing pollution, preventing climate-related health impacts, and ensuring a sustainable future.

Read the full letter below or view the PDF version.

February 10, 2025

RE: February 21, 2025 Budget Workshop

Dear Metro Vancouver Board Members,

We urge you to maintain Metro Vancouver’s climate leadership by continuing to fund regional climate policy coordination and greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation. These programs are not just essential for meeting climate commitments, but they are also vital for safeguarding the health and wellbeing of 2.8 million residents who depend on Metro Vancouver to maintain safe air quality and environmental protections.

Air quality regulation and climate services are core functions of Metro Vancouver, as crucial to the region’s livability as drinking water treatment, waste management, and parks services. The BC Environmental Management Act delegates to Metro Vancouver the authority and responsibility to regulate air pollution and GHG emissions. This mandate is critical for effective monitoring and management of regional air quality.

The health impacts of climate change are already evident in our communities. The 2021 heat dome claimed over 600 lives in British Columbia, while air pollution contributes to an estimated 1,900 premature deaths in BC annually. Wildfire smoke has blanketed our cities every summer, worsening respiratory illnesses and increasing hospital admissions. These are not distant threats, but present public health emergencies.

Cutting Metro Vancouver’s climate programs would weaken the Climate 2050 strategy and its roadmaps for reducing pollution in buildings, transportation, and industry. This would hinder our ability to protect air quality, mitigate climate-related health risks, and ensure a sustainable future for the region.

Claims of costs savings from eliminating these programs are short-sighted. The cost of emergency response, healthcare, and infrastructure damage from climate-related disasters far exceeds the modest investment Metro Vancouver makes in climate action. Notably, the entire air quality and climate action services budget for 2025 represents just 1% of Metro Vancouver’s total financial plan. Climate inaction is far more costly. Indeed, Canadians were advised this January by the Insurance Bureau of Canada that 2024 was the most expensive on record in terms of insurance payouts due to severe weather events.

We urge you to reject cuts to Metro Vancouver’s climate programs and to continue prioritizing policies that safeguard public health and our collective future. At the very least, given the significance of this decision and its far-reaching implications for our region’s health and resilience, we urge the Board to delay any decisions about cutting climate programs until:

• A comprehensive public consultation process can be conducted
• The full economic impacts of reduced climate services are properly assessed
• Affected stakeholders, including health authorities and environmental organizations, can provide input
• The implications for member municipalities’ climate commitments can be evaluated

This is not a decision that should be made hastily as part of regular budget deliberations. The potential consequences for public health, municipal coordination, and our region’s climate preparedness deserve thorough analysis and robust public discussion.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation require regional coordination. Extreme weather events and GHG emissions do not respect municipal boundaries. Metro Vancouver’s work in coordinating efforts among member municipalities and with provincial and federal governments increases efficiency and effectiveness, easing the burden on individual local governments.

Metro Vancouver has been a leader in climate action, setting an example for other regions in Canada. Reversing course would send a signal that our region is willing to abandon crucial environmental protections at a time when stronger action is needed. Other regions look to Metro Vancouver for leadership—this is not the time to step back. The decisions you make in the coming weeks will have lasting impacts on the health, safety, and resilience of our communities.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melissa Lem, MD, CCFP, PCFP
CAPE President, Vancouver, BC

Dr. Larry Barzelai, MD, CCFP
CAPE BC Chair, Vancouver, BC