Port Moody vs. environment goals

Using a few key benchmarks, we’re looking at environmental stewardship in the Tri-Cities over the last decade. To read our article on Port Coquitlam, click here. To read our article on Coquitlam, click here.

While Port Moody has added dozens of community garden beds and upped the city’s diversion rate over the past decade, the City of the Arts struggled to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce water consumption over the last decade.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Emissions ticked up 4.6 percent in Port Moody from 2010 to 2018.

In 2010: 104,901 tonnes of CO2e emissions (carbon dioxide equivalent) were produced in Port Moody.

The causes: Emissions were split almost down the middle between buildings and traffic.

Nearly half, or 47 percent of those emissions, were the result of vehicle traffic (four percent due to heavy duty trucks and the rest to light duty.) Aside from two percent attributed to waste, the rest of GHGs produced in Port Moody stemmed from heating and cooling buildings with 37 percent coming from residential buildings and 14 percent from commercial structures.

In 2018: Vehicle emissions accounted from the majority of CO2e in 2018 (52 percent in total with 47 percent caused by light duty vehicles and another five percent due to heavy duty). Buildings accounted for 45 percent of GHGs, (33 percent in residential buildings and 12 percent from commercial).

On a per capita basis, emissions were down 1.2 percent. Over the next decade, Port Moody is attempting to reduce emissions 40 percent by 2030, based on 2007 levels.

In order to make buildings in Port Moody more energy efficient while better managing extreme weather such as heat, flooding and windstorms, the city is preparing a climate ready homes plan. For more information on the program or to take a survey, click here.

Water consumption

Water use in Port Moody rose six percent between 2010 and 2020.

While there has been population growth over the past decade, water consumption can also fluctuate based on leaks and demand factors like weather or construction, according to the city.

2010: Port Moody bought 5.0 million cubic metres of water from Metro Vancouver.
2020: The city purchased 5.3 million cubic metres of water from Metro Vancouver.

Diversion rate

2010: 61 percent diversion rate.

2020: 74 percent diversion rate.

Cause: By adding food scraps to yard trimmings as well as reducing garbage collection in terms of both frequency and volume, the city was able to send less to the landfill.