This article hits the issue more directly than any others I have seen printed in Canadian media. How long will it take before we are blessed with some leadership that understands that the economic growth paradigm is coming to an end?

One of our members has created a petition that we intend take to the Vancouver City council to urge them to create a task force to begin looking at the multitude of issues that permanently declining oil supplies creates. Politicians and business folk accustomed to the growth paradigm need to wake up and realize that it’s time to plan and implement solutions that account for shrinking liquid fuel supplies every subsequent year from now. No one yet knows the rate of decline that we will collectively experience but it is this rate that should determine the scope and time line of solutions to effectively mitigate the numerous and far reaching risks. The City of Vancouver needs to perform a thorough risk assessment, facilitate scenario planning, draft a plan, circulate the plan to all stakeholders and begin implementation. Help us create a loud enough collective voice that will demand the attention of city council.

Sign the petition HERE.

I’m a member of Voters Taking Action on Climate Change (VTACC), a local citizens group lobbying the BC government to take action on climate change. The organization has successfully lobbied to stop the coal plants and is now campaigning for a carbon tax. In a recent budget consultation process, the government received an unexpected call for action to create a carbon tax. Here are the details:

Read the complete Post.

Vancouver city councilor (NPA) Suzanne Anton is the first councilor I have heard use the term “Peak Oil” publicly. She seems to have seen the light considering her comment:

“I don’t think we should be thinking about anything except global warming, climate change and peak oil,” she said. “Everything else should fit within that.”

made in response to her thoughts about the GVRD’s revision of the 11 year old Livable Region Strategic Plan. The full article is available here: Urban, suburban divide revealed in growth plan.

Perhaps we should organize a meeting with her to discuss how we can raise peak oil as a higher priority within the council?