Levelling the Playing Field as Vancouver Implements its Renewable City Strategy

What are the roles of equity, justice and democratic process as the City of Vancouver moves forward with its energy planning? 

According to the World Energy Council, energy equity is about accessibility and affordability of energy supply across the population. While cities are demonstrating climate and energy leadership, they will need to do so while ensuring affordability of renewable energy.

Vancouver has both an ambitious energy plan, as well as acute affordability issues. Is there a risk that greater use of renewable energy in the City of Vancouver will impose unequal economic burdens on different segments of the community? Could the energy plan compromise the City’s goals for social equity? What are the roles of equity, justice, and democratic process as the City moves forward with its energy planning?

Join us as for a free public dialogue as we open the discussion of energy equity and climate justice in Vancouver.

Webcast: Carbon Talks will be webcast live, thanks to the support of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. Webcast link: http://www.sfu.ca/webcast (Follow the conversation on Twitter at @CarbonTalks)

PANEL

• Councillor Andrea Reimer, Councillor, City of Vancouver
• Ananda Lee Tan, Organizer, Facilitator, Trainer and Guide
• Alex Boston, Principal and Senior Planner, Boston Consulting

PANELIST BIOS

About Councillor Andrea Reimer

Inspired by Mayor Gregor Robertson’s leadership to join Vision Vancouver, Andrea Reimer was first elected to Vancouver City Council in 2008, and re-elected in 2011 and 2014. Prior to being elected to City Council, Andrea was the executive director of Canada’s largest membership-based environment group, the Wilderness Committee, a position she held for 10 years. She has served on the boards of many community organizations, including CCEC Credit Union, Your Local Farmer’s Market Society, Canadian Women Voters Congress, and the Vancouver Foundation Health and Social Development Committee.

Andrea ran for public office on three key commitments – Greenest city on Earth, City of compassion and opportunity and City of strong communities – and is passionate about transformative, community-driven change, while being realistic about the hard work it takes to get there.

About Ananda Lee Tan

Since 1986 Ananda Lee Tan has been organizing campaigns and building coalitions, networks and alliances on land defense, labor rights, environmental justice, climate change, sustainable forestry and food justice issues around the world. At present, he is actively involved with the Labor Network for Sustainability, the Ruckus Trainers Network, the Climate Justice Alliance and the EDGE Funders Alliance. Ananda recently helped convene the Building Equity & Alignment for Impact initiative – bringing together the leadership of national NGOs, grassroots movements and philanthropy to collaborate on building a stronger, more effective environmental movement. In 2014, he helped plan and coordinate the People’s Climate March in New York City, from which the People’s Climate Movement has emerged to organize at the intersections of race, poverty and climate change.

About Alex Boston

Alex serves local and senior governments, developers and utilities on community energy and climate change. He has led multiple award-winning climate plans and projects.Alex was Senior Planner directing community climate and energy services at a series of planning and design firms that merged with global engineering consultancy Golder. Boston Consulting is a policy, planning and engagement boutique specializing in community climate change adaption and mitigation services.Alex frequently advises BC Government ministries, and has been an ongoing advisor to the FCM on Climate Protection Program renewal. He recently completed the urban agenda for a national 80% GHG reduction project for the Canadian Academy of Engineering and David Suzuki Foundation.