On June 25, 2024, the 3rd anniversary of the unprecedented heat dome in Western Canada, 350.org launched a new campaign demanding life-saving heat pumps for all.
During the 2021 heat dome, temperatures reached record breaking levels and 619 people died in BC. Most of the people who dies were elderly or vulnerable people without access to fans or air conditioning. Canada can help save lives and lower carbon pollution by implementing a Universal Heat Pump program, providing heat pumps to anyone who needs one.
This short documentary by 350.org, features the story of HW Flesher Housing Co-op’s heat pumps and an interview with Dr. Melissa Lem. The mini-doc revisits the 2021 heat dome and shares the positive future of heat pumps.
“It seems like a never-ending litany of climate effects on our health care system …. Electric heat pumps are an incredibly important part of our response to … the climate crisis because they’re more energy efficient, they also use clean electricity … to heat our homes instead of burning natural gas that worsens air pollution within the inside of our homes, but also drives the climate crisis by increasing our use of fossil fuels.”
~ Dr. Melissa Lem, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
The campaign, Heat Pumps for All, is gathering petition signatures and working to build nationwide support for a publicly-owned Universal Heat Pump Program. Find your local campaign and sign the petition here!
About 350.org
350.org is an international movement of people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-centred renewable energy for all. Through grassroots campaigns across the world, they hope to “dismantle the influence and infrastructure of the fossil fuel industry” and fight for clean, renewable energy solutions that help everyone.
Read articles on climate change, sustainability, education, and more from GTEC’s Communication & Media (formally GTEC Blog)!
Preparing for wildfires is an important task and is not one that many organizations think about doing. In March 2024, GTEC and the Federation of Community Social Services of B.C. produced a webinar called Preparing Your Organization for the 2024 Wildfire Season. Watch the webinar here.