Sierra Club BC Campaigns and Projects

• Sierra CERCles. Sierra Carbon Emission Reduction Clubs (CERCles) are small groups whose members support each other in taking personal action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. CERCles provide people with easy-to-use tools for measuring their emissions, and help them find ways to shrink their carbon footprint.  Sierra Club BC offers training workshops and resource materials for people interested in hosting a CERCle of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, members of their faith community or other acquaintances.
  

  (see our CERCles publications)

• Cool Cities. Communities across Canada are taking action to curb global warming. In BC, local governments like Squamish and Victoria are moving forward with innovative energy solutions. These include greening city vehicle fleets, anti-idling policies, creating  pedestrian and bike-friendly pathways and encouraging energy conservation and renewable energy. These safe-energy solutions save taxpayer dollars, help curb carbon emissions and create healthier communities. Sierra Club BC is part of the Sierra Club of Canada’s Cool Cities campaign.
• Oil and Gas Subsidies. Sierra Club BC is urging an end subsidies to BC’s oil and gas sector. We are concerned that gains made in energy conservation might be wiped out by increased greenhouse gas emissions from this sector, which is responsible for approximately one-fifth of B.C.’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The February 2009 budget contained a 57 percent increase in subsidies to the oil and gas sector—to a whopping $1.5 billion over the next three fiscal years.
  
• Renewable Energy. Sierra Club BC is urging the BC government to devote more resources to clean, renewable energy. BC’s new $25 million Innovative Clean Energy Fund, to support development of clean energy and energy-efficient technologies, is a small start. However, the sum set aside for clean energy pales in comparison to public subsidies BC gives to carbon-generating oil and gas companies.  
• Biodiversity Adaptation Plan. Sierra Club BC wants to ensure that BC's ecosystems and wildlife are resilient in the face of global warming. We are asking the BC government to fund a range of biodiversity measures, including a climate change adaptation strategy, increased protection and connectivity for land and seascapes, and public education.
• Moratorium on offshore oil and gas development. A federal moratorium prevents oil and gas drilling off the BC coast. The current BC government strongly supports offshore oil and gas drilling and is lobbying the federal government to lift its moratorium.  The federal moratorium is the only effective way to protect BC’s coastline, communities and wildlife from devastating oil spills. Sierra Club BC joins other conservation groups in calling for the 35-year-old federal moratorium to continue. Learn more.