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City of Nanaimo, RDN sign on to international environmental initiative

Community climate change volunteer program part of ICLEI Agents of Change Project
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The City of Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo have partnered on an international project to partner with community volunteers on emissions-reduction efforts at a regional level. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ahead of Earth Day next week, the city and the regional district have announced their participation in an international initiative at a local level.

The City of Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo recently issued a joint press release indicating they have signed on to the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Canada’s Agents of Change Project via the formation of a climate change community volunteer program.

The city and the regional district will work with other local governments and ICLEI Canada on volunteer engagement meant to support emissions-reduction efforts.

“The RDN is committed to building regional climate action by working with our municipal partners and engaging our residents,” said Tyler Brown, RDN chairperson, in the release. “We are keen to get started on this new initiative with the City of Nanaimo that promises to be a long-term catalyst for local climate action.”

Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog called the project a great example of the city and the regional district working together toward a sustainable future.

“I am excited to see this program take flight and look forward to connecting with residents on how we can work together to protect our shared environment,” he said in the release.

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ICLEI Canada, with federal government support, is contributing $15,000 over the next year toward development of a region-wide volunteer program, noted the release. Volunteer groups that supported the application to the Agents of Change Project include the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub, Nanaimo Green Faith Circle, First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo, Nature Nanaimo and the Mid-Vancouver Island Electric Vehicle Association.

The release noted that the City of Nanaimo has set emissions-reduction targets of 50-58 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030 and 94-107 per cent below 2010 levels by 2050, while the RDN has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 per cent below 2007 levels by 2050.

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editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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