Electric Bikes and TMX Tankers: Vancouver’s Climate Contradictions

This spring, oil started to flow through the infamous TransMountain Pipeline expansion, bringing with it a fresh wave of sadness, anger and fighting spirit to the community of Vancouverites who resisted this $34 billion boondoggle for more than a decade. At the same time, with a local government that delights in ripping up bike lanes, and Conservative political parties surging both provincially and federally, the Climate Justice movement has its work cut out for it in the next year.

Join us for a friendly, informal, and defiantly hopeful discussion on the contradictions of climate action in this critical historic moment.

Avi Lewis is thrilled to host two powerhouse voices in the climate movement: Bill McKibben, renowned environmentalist and founder of 350.org and Third Act, and Anjali Appadurai, the fierce climate justice advocate and former federal candidate for Vancouver–Granville . These speakers have dedicated their lives to challenging the status quo and building a safe and sustainable future.

In this conversation, we’ll delve into the stark contrast between the city’s embrace of “green” rhetoric and lifestyles alongside the relentless push for fossil export expansion epitomized by the TMX pipeline. How can we reconcile a city that’s a beacon of “green living” with one that also stands as a hub for some of the dirtiest oil on the planet? What lessons can Vancouver teach the world about the power and peril of local climate action?

Expect an evening filled with compelling stories of camaraderie and a shared determination to fight for our planet’s future. Let’s face the climate challenge head-on and explore how collective action can turn the tide. Bring your questions, your frustrations, and most importantly, your hope. Together, we can push for the change we need.

Join us for an unforgettable evening, and then let’s roll up our sleeves and get back to work, Vancouver!

Presented by Connect For Change, the SFU Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies, and the UBC Centre for Climate Justice.