Earth Day: building a more climate-resilient Kelowna 

Happy Earth Day, Kelowna! Today we celebrate our shared commitment to caring for the place we call home – and to building a city that is ready for the climate challenges we are already experiencing now and in the future.  

Kelowna residents know firsthand the impacts of a rapidly changing climate. In recent years, record spring precipitation has led to historic flooding and road washouts, followed by hot, dry summers that contributed to droughts and devastating wildfires. Regional climate projection reports for the Okanagan show these extremes are expected to become more common over the next three decades, with hotter summers, warmer winters, increased precipitation outside of summer, and shifting seasons. 

That’s why climate action in Kelowna is about more than city-wide goals — it’s about practical, everyday actions we can all make at home to contribute towards a safer, more resilient, and more sustainable environment. Guided by the Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy, the City is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while helping residents prepare for climate impacts such as wildfire risk, water scarcity, extreme heat, and rising energy costs. The strategy has set a community target to reduce emissions to 25 per cent below 2007 levels by 2033, while supporting actions that strengthen neighbourhood resilience and protect quality of life. 

“Residents play a vital role in helping the City achieve climate resiliency and environmental stewardship goals, and Earth Day is a great time to become more actively involved,” said Chris Ray, City of Kelowna’s Climate Action and Environment Manager. “Individual actions to lower emissions, decrease climate risks, and support biodiversity might appear minor, but they can have a significant effect when combined. Additionally, these efforts frequently lead to extra benefits like lower energy bills, cleaner air, and increased comfort in the home – advantages that are often overlooked.”  

The City has many programs available to allow residents the opportunity to contribute towards efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and improve low-carbon resilience. Below are just some of the many ways that you can become more involved in combatting climate change: 

• Grow a cooler, greener city. Through NeighbourWoods, the City offers discounted trees for planting on private property—because trees on private land benefit the whole community. Since 2010, residents have planted more than 8,300 NeighbourWoods trees, helping shade neighbourhoods, reduce urban heat, absorb carbon, and strengthen Kelowna’s urban forest. Five of the tree varieties available for sale are drought tolerant, making it easy to upgrade your property and support your wider community. Trees are available for pre-order until April 29 (or until trees are sold out), so act fast! 
• FireSmart your property. FireSmart programs help homeowners reduce wildfire risk through simple, effective steps like yard clean‑up, pruning, and fuel reduction. Creating FireSmart properties makes neighbourhoods safer and more resilient as wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense. You can book a free FireSmart home assessment from a Kelowna Fire Department Safety Educator at 250-469-8801 
• Use water wisely. The Okanagan region has one of the highest rates of water usage across Canada and household lawn and garden irrigation makes up 24 per cent of water used across the region. Small changes in the way you irrigate and landscape your garden can result in big changes in water usage.  WaterSmart rebates and resources support efficient irrigation, drought‑tolerant landscaping, and outdoor water savings—helping protect our shared water supply through hotter, drier summers. If you are a City Water Utlility customer, you can book a free irrigation assessment by emailing [email protected] 
• Cut emissions and energy costs at home. The City of Kelowna has partnered with City Green Solutions and the Home Energy Navigator Program, to provide residents with free home energy audits, rebates, workshops, and one‑on‑one support from an Energy Concierge to improve comfort, reduce natural gas use, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Registration is currently available for a limited at Kelowna Special Offers - Home Energy Navigator. 

This Earth Day, climate action can start right at home. By planting a tree, conserving water, following wildfire mitigation tips, or improving your home’s energy efficiency, you’re helping build a healthier, safer, and more climate‑ready Kelowna – one action at a time.