It’s bold, big and ambitious, but it’s a vision that could set West Vancouver apart from other municipalities, says the district’s Climate Action Working Group co-chair.

Nora Gambioli says West Vancouver may set a goal of a fossil fuel free future, the idea being that the vision directs the district and residents with their choices.

“We can sort of measure all the decisions we are making against that sort of standard — ‘Is that going to get us to a fossil fuel free community or not?’” Gambioli said.

Home and transportation emissions make up 92 per cent of green house gases within West Van, stated the group’s draft Climate Action Plan. In 2007, the community pumped 44,405 tonnes of CO2 into the air, according to the report.

“Everybody talks about recycling and stuff, which is great, but the reality is the issue of waste and all the other possibilities are tiny compared to (home and transportation emissions),” Gambioli said.

As with other B.C. municipalities, West Van has to be carbon neutral by 2012 and the adoption of the fossil fuel free vision takes that a step further, explained Coun. Trisha Panz, who sits on the group.

“It’s ambitious but it is making us realize that we need to move in that direction,” she said.

The vision encourages both the district and residents to become aware of the resources they consume, Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones said.

“For taxpayers, this matters a great deal in terms of how we run the municipality,” she said. “For the individual, it represents a new way of looking at personal consumption.”

Council is expecting the Climate Action Working Group’s final plan before the end of this year.

raldous@northshoreoutlook.com