Burnaby Climate Action Guide

Actions You Can Take to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Achieving our carbon reduction goals requires the concentrated effort of individuals and businesses alike. Climate change may appear daunting, but collective small actions make a significant impact. Here are some actions you, your family, your strata, your community group, your school, or your business can take to contribute to climate action. 

• Be a climate leader by sharing energy-conscious actions with friends and neighbours. We learn best by example and from those around us and in our closest communities. 
• Volunteer with organisations dedicated to improving ecosystems, such as: 
  • Streamkeepers are groups of like-minded citizens dedicated to improving the health of streams and rivers in our community. Activities include engaging with the public, removing non-native plants and planting native trees and shrubs in sensitive areas, and reporting on occurrences of pollution to waterways. Burnaby is fortunate to have several Streamkeeper groups that are actively working on Eagle Creek, Stoney Creek and Byrne Creek.  
• If you live in a home or strata with watercourses running through or adjacent to your property, protect and enhance them with guidance from the City. For example, removing invasive plants from channel banks and restoring them with native vegetation can increase bank stability, create shade and improve ecosystem health and resiliency—plus, the benefits extend beyond property boundaries as they also enhance habitat areas farther downstream and help keep our city cooler.  
• Properly dispose of green waste—including house plants, yard trimmings and garden refuse—in green bins or at the Eco-Centre. This helps to prevent invasive plant or insect species spread.  
• Participate in Environment Week events throughout Burnaby, such as: 
  • Invasive species plant pulls—join other Burnaby residents in removing invasives such as English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry from Burnaby parks. 
  • Car trunk sale—your junk may be someone else’s treasure! Find new homes for old items and keep them out of the landfill. 
  • Go by Bike Week—challenge your friends, co-workers and other companies to get around using sustainable modes of transportation.  
• Get active! Can you get where you need to go without using your car? Each year, the City is expanding our network of sidewalks, cycle tracks and multi-use pathways. Walk, roll or cycle to reach your destination, or to get to a transit stop or station. You’ll benefit from both lowering your carbon output and improving your health.  
• Time for a new vehicle? Consider making the switch to a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV)! Every year, there are more and more choices, and there are thousands of dollars in federal and provincial incentives available for purchases of eligible zero-emission vehicles. Plus, the network of charging stations is growing, including at City-owned facilities throughout Burnaby.  
• Live in a “green building.” If you’re in the market for a new condo, townhouse or commercial space, choose lowcarbon buildings and energy efficient options for homes and renovations.  
• If you are building a new home, doing renovations or retrofits, or purchasing new appliances, be sure to choose energy-efficient options. Check out CleanBC for advice on making low-carbon improvements and finding rebates.