--- title: "Climate Defence Strategy: the COPE plan | Vancouver 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/parties/cope/2026-platform/fight-for-vancouver/climate-defence-strategy" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:00:28.121Z" meta: description: "COPE would turn Vancouver's climate adaptation plan into a Climate Defence Strategy, grow the tree canopy to 30% by 2050, rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit an..." "og:description": "COPE would turn Vancouver's climate adaptation plan into a Climate Defence Strategy, grow the tree canopy to 30% by 2050, rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit an..." "og:title": "Climate Defence Strategy: the COPE plan | Vancouver 2026" "twitter:description": "COPE would turn Vancouver's climate adaptation plan into a Climate Defence Strategy, grow the tree canopy to 30% by 2050, rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit an..." "twitter:title": "Climate Defence Strategy: the COPE plan | Vancouver 2026" --- ** COPE · Vancouver 2026 # COPE on climate: a Climate Defence Strategy, 30% tree canopy by 2050, rejoin Sue Big Oil COPE would turn Vancouver's climate adaptation plan into a Climate Defence Strategy, grow the tree canopy to 30% by 2050, rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit and oppose dredging and fossil fuel tankers in Burrard Inlet. It wants a community-led, worker-owned green energy grid. All 16 commitments [Read pages 16 to 17 of the PDF ](https://www.votecope.ca/s/Fight-For-Vancouver-COPE-2026-Platform-t7yf.pdf#page=16) [**12**Candidates](https://voche.me/parties/cope/candidates) [**9/10**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/parties/cope/platform) [**7**Sources on file](https://voche.me/parties/cope/money) **9**Questions answered FIGHT FOR VANCOUVER · PAGES 16 TO 17 ## Climate Defence Strategy: what the Fight for Vancouver says COPE's climate chapter starts from preparation. The party would turn Vancouver's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy into a full Climate Defence Strategy that upgrades public buildings and housing, protects the local food supply, and helps communities get ready for heat waves, snow storms and atmospheric rivers, which are long bands of heavy rain. The platform recalls that the 2021 heat dome killed 619 people in BC. On cutting emissions, COPE would get the city back on track for 6 climate targets it says Vancouver is missing, from walkable neighbourhoods to zero-emission heating. It would grow the urban tree canopy to 30% by 2050 with native species, invest in transit and cycling, and support repair programs, tool libraries and free stores. It wants wind, water and solar power produced across the city, moving toward a community-led and worker-owned green energy grid. Some items are about holding others to account. COPE would rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit against large polluters and oppose dredging and fossil fuel tankers in Burrard Inlet. The platform also states that taxing the wealthiest people is climate policy, citing Oxfam's finding that the richest 1% emit more carbon than the poorest 50%. Council controls city climate programs and buildings, the Park Board controls park trees, and the port is run by a federal port authority. THE PARTY'S NUMBERS ## Figures in this chapter **30% by 2050** Urban forest canopy target COPE sets The party's figure, page 17 **6** Climate action targets the platform says Vancouver is failing to meet The party's figure, page 16 **1% and 50%** The platform cites Oxfam International: the richest 1% emit more carbon than the poorest 50% of humanity combined The party's figure, page 16 **619** People the platform says the 2021 heat dome killed in BC The party's figure, page 17 **1.5 and 1.8 degrees** The platform cites a September 2026 UN Environment Programme report saying warming beyond 1.5 degrees is now unavoidable and could peak at 1.8 degrees with urgent action The party's figure, page 17 **1956** Year by which the platform says the fossil fuel industry knew about the environmental impact of burning oil and gas The party's figure, page 17 16 COMMITMENTS ## What the party says it would do 1. ### Turn the adaptation strategy into a Climate Defence Strategy COPE would speed up Vancouver's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and turn it into a full Climate Defence Strategy.
Who has the power
City Council Council adopts the city's climate strategies and funds the work through its budget.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
2. ### Climate Defence: get more with less As part of the Climate Defence Strategy, the party would invest in tool libraries, circular economy projects and zero-waste programs.
Who has the power
City Council Council can fund these programs through the city budget.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
3. ### Climate Defence: upgrade public infrastructure and housing The strategy would upgrade public infrastructure and housing to protect the city and save lives during future climate events.
Who has the power
City Council Council approves the capital plan that pays for city infrastructure and buildings.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
4. ### Climate Defence: protect the food system The strategy would protect the food system from climate shocks by investing in local food production and creating systems to cut food waste.
Who has the power
City Council Council can fund local food programs and pass city rules on waste.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
5. ### Climate Defence: help communities prepare The strategy would help communities prepare for climate events and disasters, including heat waves, snow storms and atmospheric rivers.
Who has the power
City Council Council funds the city's emergency planning and community programs.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
6. ### Get back on track for 6 climate targets COPE would get Vancouver back on track to meet 6 climate action targets it says the city is failing: walkable neighbourhoods, active transportation and transit, zero-emission vehicles, zero-emission space and water heating, low carbon materials and construction, and restored coasts and forests.
Who has the power
City, with others Council controls zoning, streets and the city's own building bylaw, while transit service is run by TransLink, a regional body.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
7. ### Lead the country on climate change The party would meet and exceed IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) climate targets and use the City of Vancouver's public voice to push for climate justice provincially, federally and globally.
Who has the power
City Council Council sets the city's own climate targets and positions.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
8. ### Support wind, water and solar energy COPE would encourage renewable energy production across the city, coordinate climate-friendly energy upgrades at neighbourhood scale, and move the city from being a passive consumer of provincial energy toward a community-led and worker-owned green energy grid.
Who has the power
City, with others Council can encourage local energy through permits and city projects. The platform itself describes today's power supply as provincial.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
9. ### Rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit The party would hold the wealthiest people accountable for climate change by rejoining the "Sue Big Oil" lawsuit and making big polluters pay their share of the cost of the climate crisis.
Who has the power
City Council Joining a lawsuit and paying for it is a Council decision.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
10. ### Oppose dredging of the Burrard Inlet and fossil fuel tankers COPE would oppose dredging the Burrard Inlet and fight fossil fuel infrastructure and tankers in Vancouver's waters.
Who has the power
Federal government The port is run by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, which operates under the federal Canada Marine Act and answers to the federal Minister of Transport, so the city can only object.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
11. ### Honour Indigenous rights and knowledge on climate The party would honour Indigenous rights, knowledge and voices on climate. The platform cites Mi'kmaq Elder Albert Marshall's idea of "two-eyed seeing", which joins insights from western and Indigenous traditions.
Who has the power
City Council Council sets how the city consults and works with Indigenous people on its climate plans.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 16
12. ### Grow the urban forest canopy to 30% by 2050 COPE would grow the urban forest canopy to 30% by 2050, with priority for climate-resilient native species.
Who has the power
City, with others The Park Board manages trees in parks, and Council controls city streets and land outside parks.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 17
13. ### Increase biodiversity in public parks The party would increase biodiversity in public parks, plant native species and support healthy local ecosystems.
Who has the power
Park Board The Park Board controls planting and land care in parks.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 17
14. ### Invest in transit, active transportation and cycling COPE would invest in affordable and reliable public transit, active transportation and cycling infrastructure to get drivers out of polluting cars and meet climate goals.
Who has the power
City, with others The city builds bike lanes and sidewalks on its own streets, while buses and SkyTrain are run by TransLink, a regional body.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 17
15. ### More green space in dense areas The party would give priority to new green spaces and parks, especially in dense areas where it says parks are not keeping pace with development.
Who has the power
City, with others Council sets zoning for dense areas, and the Park Board designs and runs parks.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 17
16. ### Move toward a zero-waste economy COPE would support circular economy projects and move quickly toward a zero-waste economy, backing tool libraries, community repair programs, free stores, and programs like FreeGeek that repair electronics and put them back into use.
Who has the power
City Council Council can fund these programs and set city waste policy.
Source
Fight for Vancouver, page 17
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT ## Where the power sits for this chapter City Council9 City, with others5 Park Board1 Federal government1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ## Questions about climate defence strategy
What is COPE's Climate Defence Strategy? COPE would turn Vancouver's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy into a full Climate Defence Strategy. It would invest in tool libraries and zero-waste programs, upgrade public infrastructure and housing, protect the food system, and help communities prepare for heat waves, snow storms and atmospheric rivers (platform, page 16).
Does COPE want Vancouver to rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit? Yes. COPE says it would rejoin the "Sue Big Oil" lawsuit and make big polluters pay their share for the climate crisis (platform, page 16).
What is COPE's tree canopy target for Vancouver? COPE would grow the urban forest canopy to 30% by 2050, with priority for climate-resilient native species (platform, page 17).
What does COPE say about Burrard Inlet? COPE would oppose the dredging of the Burrard Inlet and fight fossil fuel infrastructure and tankers in Vancouver's waters. The port is run by a federal port authority, so the city can only object (platform, page 16).
Does COPE support local renewable energy in Vancouver? Yes. COPE would encourage wind, water and solar energy production across the city and move toward a community-led and worker-owned green energy grid (platform, page 16).
Who would carry out COPE's climate plan? Council controls the city's climate strategies, buildings, streets and budget. The Park Board controls trees and planting in parks, TransLink runs transit, and the port falls under a federal authority (platform, pages 16 and 17).
ON THE BALLOT ## The COPE candidates behind this ### City Council [111**Sean Orr**Ballot 111 · Vancouver city councillor](https://voche.me/candidates/sean-orr) [121**Devyani Singh**Ballot 121](https://voche.me/candidates/devyani-singh) [124**Chloe Leslie**Ballot 124](https://voche.me/candidates/chloe-leslie) [155**Solomon Yi-Kieran**Ballot 155](https://voche.me/candidates/solomon-yi-kieran) ## Sources Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it. 1. [Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 Platform (PDF) ](https://www.votecope.ca/s/Fight-For-Vancouver-COPE-2026-Platform-t7yf.pdf#page=16)SAYS SO ITSELFCOPE · pages 16 to 17 · checked September 30, 2026 2. [Vancouver Fraser Port Authority: organization profile ](https://federal-organizations.canada.ca/profil.php?OrgID=VFPA&lang=en)Government of Canada · checked September 30, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.