Vancouver has long been recognized as a global leader in sustainability, a city that others look to for bold environmental action and progressive urban governance. Which is why the reported proposal by Mayor Ken Sim to eliminate or significantly weaken Vancouver’s climate and sustainability department is not just concerning — it is dangerously short-sighted.

We are living through what scientists call the decisive decade for humanity. Global temperatures have already risen more than 1.3 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, and we are on track to surpass 1.5 C by the early 2030s. These are not distant forecasts. British Columbia has already endured lethal heat domes, catastrophic flooding and wildfire smoke that chokes our cities and strains our health systems.

Vancouver, a coastal city built on delta lands, sits on the front lines of this crisis. These next few years will determine whether we safeguard a livable city or lock in escalating risks for generations to come. To weaken the very department coordinating Vancouver’s climate response at this moment would be an act of governance malpractice.