Canadian Town On Track to Cut 90% of Emissions by 2050

A small mountain town in British Columbia just proved that fighting climate change doesn't mean stopping growth.

Squamish, a community north of Vancouver, is on track to reduce emissions by 90% per capita by 2050, even as its population grows nearly 3% each year. District manager Ian Picketts announced the projection update in May, marking a major milestone for the town's ambitious climate action plan.

The secret weapon? Trash. Since 2021, Squamish has been capturing methane gas from its landfill, extracting about 650 tonnes in 2025 alone.

Matt Fallaise, the District's solid waste technologist, recently added eight new wellheads to the extraction system. Three are already online and have boosted methane flow by 15%, making operations more stable and reducing system shutdowns.

But the landfill innovation is just one piece of the puzzle. The town launched a Wood Reuse Pilot Program in April that lets residents salvage usable lumber from the landfill for free, keeping valuable materials out of the waste stream.

New buildings in Squamish must now follow zero-carbon standards. The town also added 11 new electric vehicle charging stations at key community spots, including eight downtown chargers specifically for residents in apartments and condos who can't install chargers at home.

The community declared a climate emergency in 2019 and created its first climate action plan in 2020. The updated 2025 plan includes six "Big Moves" covering everything from waste reduction to building efficiency, with 67 specific actions the town is taking.

The Ripple Effect

Squamish isn't waiting for federal mandates or major cities to lead the way. With just over 23,000 residents, this small town is showing that local action can drive real change.

The Retrofit Assist Program, entering another year with help from the Youth Climate Corps, is now focusing on helping multi-unit buildings become more energy efficient. A new consultant is developing an embodied carbon bylaw to encourage developers to reduce emissions during the actual construction process, not just in finished buildings.

The town created a Corporate Strategic Energy Management Plan this March to examine what the municipality itself can do better. From paid parking at tourist hotspots to expanded bike infrastructure and Open Street Days, Squamish is rethinking how people move through and live in their community.

With new technologies emerging and the potential to offset remaining emissions, town officials believe they'll hit net-zero by 2050. Five more methane wellheads are waiting to come online as the landfill expands, promising even better results ahead.

Squamish proves that climate action isn't about choosing between growth and sustainability—it's about growing smarter.