Ucluelet is making sustainability and climate action a community cornerstone.
After signing on to the provincial Climate Action Charter, this little town with big ambitions.
Ucluelet has already taken big steps. The town has attained Level 3 Achievement of Carbon Neutrality by purchasing verified carbon assets from Offsetters.ca.
Ucluelet is also moving towards sustainable transportation. For example, they purchased four Level 2 EV charging stations to support private sector investments in charging infrastructure.
As of 2020, visitors and locals can now plug in at nine Level 2 chargers and two DC fast-chargers, including stations at the Pacific Rim Visitors’ Centre, the Ucluelet Community Centre, and Black Rock Ocean Front Resort.
This is a big leap forward for sustainable transportation, making it feasible for travellers to visit Vancouver Island’s rugged West Coast by electric vehicle.
Ucluelet is going even deeper into sustainability and climate change resiliency. In January of 2021, the district adopted its first Climate Change Adaptation Plan, following a detailed risk assessment to identify the coastal community’s current and future climate impacts.
“The conversations within our municipality and our hospitality sector are changing. We all value the importance of sustainability and working together, and we know we are more powerful as a team,” said Mayco Noel, Mayor of Ucluelet, in a press release.
Progressive local businesses are also making significant sustainability commitments.
This past spring, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort adopted a Zero-Waste and Refillable program aimed at sourcing 100% natural, biodegradable, refillable products for its cleaning needs and guest amenities. To help reach its goals of reducing waste, the resort partnered with two forward-thinking small businesses, The Den and Mint Cleaning, to be the main suppliers.
“The Zero-Waste dream started with a conversation. It reflects how we feel about the natural environment and our desire to protect the rainforest and ocean,” says Black Rock general manager Adele Larkin. “It’s better for the community, environment, visitors and staff. And as a tourism destination, we all recognize that the reason people come here is because they enjoy pristine natural spaces.”
