The Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society (SCCAS) board of directors is pleased to announce it is hosting a symposium on April 25 at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt.
The intent is to heighten awareness of air quality issues and resulting environmental and health impacts in the region. The SCCAS intends to translate this awareness into funding for scientific data collection by establishing long-term air quality monitoring on the Sunshine Coast.
Speakers will include: Dr. Douw Steyn, professor of atmospheric science, UBC; Dr. Paul Martiquet, regional officer, Vancouver Coastal Health; Graham Veale, air quality meteorologist, B.C. Ministry of Environment; and Ruth Simons, executive director, Future of Howe Sound Society.
There will also be panel discussions and a complimentary lunch. Invitees include political, non-profit and community representatives from across the region. Some of the issues expected to be discussed: proposed increased coal barge shipments from Fraser Surrey docks to Texada Island, proposed Woodfibre LNG processing and exporting in Squamish, and four proposed waste-to-energy incineration plants in the region to serve Metro Vancouver.
Besides this symposium, the SCCAS is currently seeking grants and will be organizing public fundraising to finance the needed research to continue to lobby and discuss with local governments on many of these important environmental issues facing the Sunshine Coast.
The SCCAS research proposal to extend air quality research to the Sunshine Coast has the support of Vancouver Coastal Health, the BC Lung Association and BC Ministry of the Environment. The Society is also working with the Sunshine Coast Regional District, the Town of Gibsons and the District of Sechelt, with an invitation to the Sechelt First Nation to create a team of trained volunteers to assist with air quality monitoring tasks.
Additionally, the SCCAS plans to form a public online reporting structure to collect data for air quality advisories and to motivate both citizen behavior change and to mobilize civic support for SCRD funding to improve air quality.
The project will be overseen by a steering committee with expertise and credentials in meteorology, biology, public health, local planning and behavioural psychology. Assessments of outcomes and analysis will follow recognized scientific protocols.
For more details see www.cleanaironthecoast.com
