Vancouver To Put Climate Change Warnings On Gas Pumps

Dec 03, 2015 04:39 PM EST | John Nassivera

North Vancouver, British Columbia, is looking to take the fight to climate change by putting warning stickers on fuel pumps to let people know about the dangers of the planet's rising temperatures.

The Canadian city is believed to be the first in the world to make climate change warnings on gas pumps mandatory, according to CBC. Rob Shirkey, founder of non-profit group Our Horizons, which is behind the initiative, said that while other Canadian and U.S. cities have supported similar causes in the past, North Vancouver is the first to make these stickers mandatory.

Rather than shaming people who own cars running on fossil fuel, the goal for the warnings is to advise them to use more environmentally friendly ways to travel, Autoblog noted.

"I couldn't live without my vehicle, but I can certainly reduce the number of trips I do use it for," North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto said, adding that alternatives include taking transit and avoiding driving when you don't need to.

Mussatto said, however, that despite the positive intent, it is difficult to avoid negative advertising, such as with providing health warnings on cigarette packaging.

"If it's too positive, which is what the industry is advocating for, then we're avoiding the problem and not addressing the issue of climate change," he said, CBC reported.

The city is expected to spend between 3,000 and 5,000 Canadian dollars (between $2,250 and $3,750), and gas station owners will be required to show them under their business licenses, according to Autoblog. The stickers will appear at gas stations starting in early 2016.

The North Vancouver government will review sticker samples in the coming months. A staff report suggested several less striking messages, such as "get $5,000 toward a purchase of a new electric car," and "save fuel through properly inflating your tires."

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