Allan Fawley

My approach to climate action has been grounded in education, community responsibility, and the belief that the way we design and use our cities matters.

My background in urban planning, with a focus on urban design, strengthened my understanding of how walkable communities, accessible public transit, green spaces, urban trees, and well-designed public places can reduce our environmental impact while improving quality of life. As an educator for more than 20 years, I have also encouraged young people to understand environmental stewardship and to see themselves as responsible participants in their communities.

In my own life, I try to make practical choices that reduce waste and consumption, including walking and using shared or public transportation when possible, reusing and repairing rather than automatically replacing, and being thoughtful about what I consume.

I believe climate action is most effective when it becomes part of everyday decision-making. At Park Board, that means considering sustainability in how we protect green spaces, manage facilities, preserve and expand the urban forest, and plan for a changing climate.

I support moving new buildings toward cleaner, low-carbon energy systems and reducing our long-term reliance on fossil fuels. New construction gives us an important opportunity to build for the future rather than retrofit later at greater cost.

At the same time, I believe changes to gas hookups should be practical, evidence-based, and consider affordability, reliability, building type, and the capacity of our electrical infrastructure. Residents and businesses should have clear information and reasonable transition periods when regulations change.

My preference is to encourage efficient, all-electric buildings wherever feasible while ensuring policies are implemented thoughtfully. Climate goals are important, but successful climate policy also needs to be workable, affordable, and supported by the infrastructure necessary to make the transition successful.

Yes, I would support restoring full funding for the Sustainability Office. Vancouver faces significant challenges related to climate change, biodiversity, extreme weather, and the long-term resilience of our parks and public spaces. I believe the Sustainability Office has an important role in ensuring these considerations are incorporated into planning and decision-making.

The office should provide expertise, coordinate sustainability initiatives, measure progress, and help ensure that environmental commitments translate into practical action. For the Park Board, this includes protecting and expanding the urban forest, improving the environmental performance of facilities, conserving water and energy, supporting biodiversity, and preparing parks for the effects of a changing climate.

Sustainability should not be treated as an isolated initiative. A properly resourced Sustainability Office can help embed responsible environmental stewardship throughout the organization while ensuring decisions are informed by evidence, measurable outcomes, and long-term thinking.

I support a moratorium on new AI data centres in Vancouver while appropriate planning and regulatory frameworks are developed. This position is consistent with TEAM for a Livable Vancouver’s policy, which recognizes the significant demands these facilities can place on water, electricity, land, and other infrastructure.

Before approving facilities with substantial resource requirements, the City should have clear standards addressing water and energy consumption, environmental effects, infrastructure capacity, and impacts on surrounding communities.

A moratorium is not a rejection of technology. It is a responsible pause that gives Vancouver the opportunity to establish evidence-based rules and determine whether, where, and under what conditions these facilities are appropriate. Growth and innovation should support—not compromise—the long-term livability and environmental resilience of our city.

Vancouver needs to accommodate population growth and provide significantly more housing, but I believe the controversy surrounding the Villages Plan demonstrates the need to rethink how we plan for that growth. A city-wide vision is important, but planning cannot become a one-size-fits-all exercise.

Every neighbourhood has its own character, infrastructure, environmental conditions, transportation needs, parks, schools and community priorities. Residents bring invaluable local knowledge to the planning process, and meaningful consultation should occur early enough to actually shape outcomes—not simply respond to decisions that have largely been made.

We should focus growth where it can be supported by transit, services and infrastructure while creating complete, walkable neighbourhoods where people can meet more of their daily needs close to home. That approach can accommodate more residents while reducing car dependence and supporting our climate goals.

Climate resilience must also be fundamental to planning. As Vancouver grows, we need to protect and expand the urban forest, preserve green space, increase tree canopy, manage stormwater effectively and ensure new development does not overwhelm existing infrastructure.

Growth and climate action do not have to compete. With thoughtful, neighbourhood-based planning and genuine local participation, we can accommodate growth while creating a greener, more resilient and more livable Vancouver.

I believe Vancouver’s parks must be part of our frontline response to climate change. As extreme heat, wildfire smoke and severe weather become more common, our parks and recreation facilities can provide practical safeguards for everyone, including people experiencing homelessness.

My focus would be on expanding tree canopy and shade, particularly in parks and neighbourhoods where these are currently limited; ensuring reliable access to drinking water; and using community centres and other appropriate facilities as cooling and clean-air spaces during extreme weather events. Washrooms, water fountains and basic public amenities should also be accessible and maintained where feasible.

People who are unhoused are particularly vulnerable to heat, smoke and extreme weather. Park Board should work closely with the City, Vancouver Coastal Health and community organizations so emergency responses are coordinated rather than expecting parks to solve homelessness.

Climate resilience also means choosing drought-tolerant planting, protecting mature trees, improving stormwater management and designing parks that can withstand changing conditions while remaining welcoming and usable for everyone.