April 22 is Earth Day, and it’s the perfect time for us all to reflect on actions and decisions we can take and make to continue to protect our environment.
As a City Council we are committed to sustainability and forward-thinking climate action that strengthens our community’s resilience to a changing environment. We are actively taking steps to improve the quality of life in Abbotsford, minimize our environmental impact and preserve our natural assets for generations to come.
Our City Council is advancing sustainability in meaningful ways through our Climate Resilience Strategy, which will integrate carbon reduction with climate adaptation; our corporate Green Buildings Policy, which ensures all new civic buildings and major renovations provide net-zero carbon emissions; and our Urban Forest Strategy, which added more than 5,600 trees and shrubs citywide last year alone.
We continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote responsible waste management and support residents in increasing energy efficiency in their homes. Through our annual Sustainability Report, we openly share our progress and commitment to innovation in environmental stewardship.
Last fall staff presented their most recent Energy and Climate Action Annual Update, which included a review of our progress towards greenhouse gas reduction targets and ongoing carbon reduction initiatives.
Among the findings were:
- Corporate-facing carbon emissions for 2023 were 24 per cent below 2007 baseline levels, exceeding our short-term reduction target of 20 per cent by 2025.
- Fleet emissions were down 23 percent from baseline levels due to a continued transition to renewable diesel as well as the ongoing replacement of fossil fuel passenger vehicles with electric vehicles.
- Building emissions were five per cent below 2007 levels (these emissions are particularly challenging to reduce due to seasonal and extreme weather impacts on building heating and cooling demands).
- Public Works emissions were down 70 per cent from baseline levels due to the completed LED Streetlight Upgrade project and ongoing application of optimized and efficient systems and technologies.
- Contractor-attributed emissions were 20 percent below baseline levels due to seasonal and weather impacts generally related to snow-clearing.
The City has done a lot to be proactive in our environmental stewardship, and we love to see it when community members chip in as well. April is also Community Clean-up Month and residents can sign up to volunteer to help beautify their neighbourhood by picking up litter. After an orientation session, participants can choose where and when to volunteer.
To learn more about what you can do for our environment you can drop by Clearbrook Library’s Earth Day event on April 22. From 2 to 5 p.m., our Solid Waste Outreach team will be hosting a booth with information on waste sorting and recycling, a colouring table for kids and City resources on addressing waste.
As we look ahead to Earth Day 2026, Abbotsford will continue to build on the work we have done by fostering a culture of conservation, supporting renewable energy technologies, protecting green infrastructure and encouraging community-led initiatives like Community Clean-up Month. Together, we can continue to shape a more sustainable future, one action at a time.
Abbotsford City Council
