Nick Stulberg

Climate action has been a priority throughout my education, advocacy, and public service. I began studying environmental issues over twenty years ago, earning a diploma in Renewable Resource Management from Lethbridge College in 2005 and later completing a political science degree at the University of Regina focused on environmental and Indigenous politics. Those studies shaped my understanding of how local governments sit on the front line of climate action.

In Penticton, I helped lead one of our city’s most significant climate milestones: the Climate Emergency Declaration. Beginning in 2019, I initiated a petition, appeared as a delegation to Council, and served as a voting member of the Sustainability Advisory Committee. Through that work, I helped update Penticton’s corporate and community climate action plans, which now guide our efforts to reduce emissions 40% by 2030.

My contributions extend beyond policy. I served on the board of First Things First Okanagan, supporting regional climate education and advocacy. At home, my family drives plug in hybrid vehicles and installed solar panels to reduce our household emissions.

Climate action has been part of my life since 2003. My goal has always been the same: to make the place I live better, safer, and more resilient for the people who call it home.

Transportation is Penticton’s largest source of climate pollution, responsible for more than half of community emissions. Reducing reliance on gas vehicles is essential for affordability, safety, and long term sustainability. My approach focuses on practical steps that give residents better choices, not burdens.

We must expand our active transportation network. The Lake to Lake bike route has shown that when we build safe cycling infrastructure, people use it. Counts have increased significantly each year, and mobility challenged residents increasingly choose the bike lane over adjacent sidewalks. Extending this network, especially east west routes on Eckhardt, Duncan, Carmi, Westminster, and Green Avenue, will make cycling a realistic option for more residents.

We also need better transit. Penticton is underserved by provincial funding, and our region requires more frequent service, expanded routes, and better intercity connections. I will continue advocating for increased provincial investment while championing local initiatives like free transit for residents 60+, building on the success of free transit for youth.

And we must continue to support EV adoption and car light living. That includes expanding public EV charging stations, improving pedestrian routes, and completing Safe Routes to School so families feel confident letting kids walk or bike.

Reducing transportation emissions is about creating a city where people have safe, affordable, low emission ways to move. When we do that, the whole community benefits.

Penticton’s Community Climate Action Plan, adopted in 2021, sets ambitious goals, including a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030. Meeting those targets requires disciplined implementation, transparent reporting, and a clear structure for accountability. My priority is to ensure the plan becomes a living document that guides daily decision making.

First, I would direct City staff to conduct a departmental review of current practices to ensure directives from the 2021 plan are being followed. This includes evaluating progress on building efficiency, transportation emissions, renewable energy adoption, and climate resilient infrastructure. Understanding where we stand is essential for moving forward.

Second, I would re establish the Sustainability Advisory Committee as a permanent body. This committee should evaluate climate targets against current indicators—wildfire risk, drought severity, air quality trends—and recommend updates that reflect the rapidly changing climate realities facing our valley.

Third, I would direct staff and the committee to establish periodic public reporting, including annual progress updates and five year milestone reviews. Residents deserve clear, plain language information about what’s been achieved, what hasn’t, and what needs to change.

Finally, climate action must be integrated into every major decision: land use, transportation, infrastructure, budgeting, and emergency planning. The plan should guide how we build, how we move, and how we prepare for the future.

Resilience means preparing for the shocks we know are coming: longer droughts, hotter summers, more severe wildfires, and increasingly unpredictable weather. Emergency response is critical, but long term planning determines whether a community can withstand the next crisis. Penticton must take proactive steps now to protect our water, our air, and our people.

First, we must secure our water supply. Penticton’s reservoir system is well maintained, but climate change threatens long term reliability. I would push for expanded watershed protection, long term drought planning, and strict scrutiny of major new water draws. Water underpins everything—drinking water, agriculture, firefighting capacity—and we cannot afford complacency.

Second, we must protect our air. Smoke events are becoming more frequent and severe. Penticton needs many more clean air shelters accessible to residents without vehicles, improved indoor air standards for public buildings, and expanded tree canopy protection to reduce urban heat and improve air quality. Trees are vital infrastructure.

Third, we must prepare and educate our children. Schools should be fully integrated into wildfire and extreme heat readiness planning, including evacuation routes, clean air spaces, and climate literacy programs that help young people understand risks and solutions.

Resilience requires coordination. Penticton must work closely with the RDOS, the Penticton Indian Band, and provincial agencies to ensure regional readiness. Resilience is built long before the next emergency.

Housing, jobs, healthcare, and climate action are deeply interconnected. We cannot solve Penticton’s affordability crisis, strengthen our local economy, or protect community health without addressing the climate crisis at the same time. My approach is rooted in the belief that climate action strengthens every part of our community.

On housing, climate action means building homes that are energy efficient, affordable to heat and cool, and resilient to extreme weather. Integrating BC’s Zero Carbon Step Code into new developments, protecting residents from heat and smoke, and expanding non market housing through affordable housing programs all support both affordability and climate goals.

On jobs, climate action means transitioning toward a green, circular economy. Penticton’s strengths (agriculture, tourism, forestry, community care) can all be positioned for sustainable growth. Supporting local procurement, expanding green infrastructure, and investing in skills training will create stable, well paid jobs that align with our climate commitments.

On healthcare, climate action means recognizing how heat, smoke, and extreme weather affect physical and mental health. Clean air shelters, cooling centres, and resilient public buildings are healthcare interventions as much as infrastructure projects.

Balancing priorities doesn’t mean choosing one over the other. It means understanding that climate action is the foundation for a stable, affordable, healthy future. We can build that future together.