Climate change

Much work ahead for Sidney to meet its climate change emissions targets, says CAO – Saanich News


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Sidney’s chief executive said there is still a lot of work to be done for the community to meet its carbon emissions targets in the municipality’s climate action plan and proposed but not yet formalized numbers for the new plan. official community.

“Given that community-wide (greenhouse gas) emissions decreased 9.4 (percent) from 2007 to 2018, it would take a reduction of about 40 (percent) to achieve the goal of 50 (percent) by 2030, and about 90 percent reduction by 2050 to become carbon neutral, ”Randy Humble said in an emailed statement.

On October 12, council received and considered two reports dealing with climate change and the municipality’s approach to it. The second notes that the community has shown support for the following emission reductions during OCP’s current engagement process: a 50% reduction in community GHGs below 2007 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The current OCP calls for a 15% reduction from 2007 levels by 2020; 30% below 2007 levels by 2030; and 80% below 2007 levels by 2050.

The new numbers are more ambitious and Kira Gill-Maher, Sidney’s climate action coordinator, said in a report that they would align the municipality’s goals with recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (IPCC) to keep warming below 1.5 C.

But they would also require a larger effort, as the community is expected to quadruple its GHG emissions from 2007 levels in nine years, an effort that would also require help from senior levels of government.

“These goals can only be achieved through community-wide effort and climate action programs across multiple levels of government,” Humble explained. “For example, an improved bus service could be a deciding factor for community members to drive their vehicles less. “

He added that carbon offsets could help to a small extent. “(But) the biggest opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in Sidney involve changes in transport (such as increased use of public transport and active transport) and the renovation of existing buildings.”

According to a staff report, transportation accounts for 56 percent of community GHG emissions, while buildings account for 29 percent.

Humble has also made it clear that he believes the goals are achievable, pointing to the recently released report setting out the key directions that have emerged from the OCP review so far.

“The model (present in the report) also shows that with aggressive action a significant reduction in emissions is possible, reaching, compared to 2007, a reduction of 41% of emissions by 2030, a reduction of 60% emissions by 2040 and a 78% reduction in emissions by 2050, ”he said.

Last Tuesday’s meeting saw the council take further action. The council first unanimously approved the staff’s approach to updating the municipality’s climate action plan, followed by a unanimous vote to establish a climate action reserve fund that dedicates a annual funding to help implement the climate action project following the update of the climate action plan, with the board to decide on the annual funding level in the next budget process.

Staff recommend $ 50,000.


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Saanich Peninsula Sidney


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