Port Coquitlam's mayor is in Paris this week to talk climate change.
Greg Moore is at the United Nations summit as chairperson of the Metro Vancouver board and is accompanied by Metro CAO Carol Mason, Vancouver Coun. Raymond Louie, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.
Moore said COP21 in Le Bourget is happening at the same time as another conference they're at: the World Council for UCLG, a local and regional government body.
Speaking from Paris Thursday night, Moore said he was in London the previous day to meet with Transport for London leaders as well as representatives with London First, a regional economic development driver.
Their initiatives — along with lessons learned at COP21 — will have an impact on Metro Vancouver and PoCo policies when they return home, Moore said.
"The leadership that some of these communities are showing in terms of transit and infrastructure is really inspiring," he said.
For PoCo, Moore hopes to incorporate some ideas from the conferences toward the rebuild of the recreation complex, of which the tender is expected to be awarded this month. He plans to suggest more green features to offset its carbon footprint.
Moore hit the ground running when he landed in Paris: He took part in a press conference with the mayors of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to pledge cooperation on climate change with the provincial and federal governments.
"Cities are a very important part of climate change," he said, noting Vancouver aims to become fully reliant on renewable energy by 2050 and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.
However, Moore said Metro is also teaching officials there about its regulatory and cultural leadership in terms of zero waste.
Meanwhile, Moore said UCLG officials have scheduled a stop at the Bataclan theatre on Saturday to pay respects to the 89 concert-goers who were killed by terrorists last month.
A Metro Vancouver spokesperson said Moore and Mason's European trip will be paid for by the regional government, not PoCo taxpayers, and the cost will be made public once they submit their expenses and those are processed.
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