Dr. Melissa Lem: Vancouver’s Climate Emergency Parking Program is a prescription for clean air and a healthy future 

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What if I told you that one thing was responsible for one-fifth of deaths worldwide, and over 15,000 deaths per year in Canada alone? What if I told you that one thing increased your risk of lung disease, heart attack and stroke, and threatens the present and future well-being of today’s young children? What if I told you a major cause of that one thing was parked innocently by the curb just outside your window?

That one thing is the fossil-fuel-related air pollution that drives climate change — which is why supporting Vancouver’s Climate Emergency Parking Program today is integral for our health.

Given that almost 40 per cent of Vancouver’s carbon pollution comes from motor vehicles, we cannot meet our target of halving emissions by 2030 without a shift to clean transportation. Therefore, this week city staff released an incentivizing proposal for us to do just that, with a $45 annual on-street parking permit fee, a $3 nightly fee for visitors who park overnight, and an additional pollution charge of up to $1000 per year for new gas-guzzling luxury sports cars and SUVs beginning in 2022.

In order for climate action to be effective, it must be well funded. If implemented, this program will generate $60 million by 2025, paying for a quarter of Vancouver’s Climate Emergency Action Plan while reducing emissions by a significant 10 per cent. Wisely, the pollution surcharge does not apply to specialized vehicles for people with disabilities, or electric, hybrid and economy cars — meaning that people who can afford to pay most and decide to pollute the most will contribute more.

Although at face value the proposal appears to affect car owners only, it’s also relevant to those of us who don’t own them. Because air pollution knows no boundaries, it harms us even when we stroll along sidewalks or sit at home with the windows open. Not only that, but choosing active transportation like walking or cycling reduces carbon emissions while boosting our mood and cardiovascular health, saving money and connecting us to our communities.

Putting a price on residential parking pollution is not a new concept in Canada or globally. Other forward-thinking cities like Montreal and Paris presently charge higher parking and congestion fees for vehicles with dirtier engines. Furthermore, 10 per cent of Vancouver’s streets already require overnight parking permits, so extending them across the city ensures everyone is paying their fair share.

In a recent survey, almost 90 per cent of Vancouver adults said they were concerned about climate change, which means that getting gas-powered cars off our streets fully aligns with our values. Despite this, the parking proposal has caused some angst. But if we reframe our thinking about what this suite of changes proposes — a shift from funding infrastructure for carbon pollution to investing in cleaner, more livable communities — then we can understand why it’s essential these measures pass. Because every dollar collected through this parking program will be reinvested into initiatives that better the lives of everyone in our city.

For less than $4 per month, you’ll help our city make targeted upgrades to public transit and its electric-vehicle charging network that will unclog our roads, clear our skies and move workers rapidly around the city. For less than $4 per month, you’ll increase the walkability of our communities with more trees, more parks and safer sidewalks. For less than $4 per month, you’ll ensure Vancouver meets its 2030 carbon emissions targets and lives up to its reputation as the “greenest city in the world”.

Vancouver’s Climate Emergency Parking Program is the furthest thing from a cash grab — it’s a sound investment in safer streets, cleaner air and climate action. To walkers, cyclers, transit riders, parents, health professionals, and even car owners: Let’s tell City Council loud and clear that putting a price on carbon pollution is the right decision for a healthy future.

Dr. Melissa Lem is a Vancouver family physician, president-elect of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia. 

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