Climate Change Resources
Climate change resources relevant to the Islands Trust Area are grouped below under the following topic areas:
Official Community Plan Policies and Actions
BC Climate Action Toolkit. A climate action resource and tool for knowledge sharing and collaboration between BC local governments developed by UBCM, Smart Planning for Communities, and the Province. The Toolkit provides the latest news, best practices, and practical advice to help reduce GHG emissions – including a section for rural communities.
Inventories, Targets, and Actions: Implementing GHG and Energy Reduction Measures for Bill 27 and More. The regional workshop materials were prepared by the Ministry of Community and Rural Development to support local governments in meeting Bill 27 requirements.
Green Bylaws Toolkit. Provides local governments and the public with practical tools for conserving sensitive ecosystems and green infrastructure, including bylaw language and legal approaches to protection.
The GHG Implications of Different Settlement Patterns on Salt Spring Island. This study assesses the impacts of different settlement land use patterns on greenhouse gas emissions for the maximum density allowed under current zoning (build-out). Three scenarios were created to highlight the effect of transferring potential density to different locations on the island using three scenarios.
Reducing Global Warming and Air Pollution: the role of green development in California (2MB PDF). This article by Lawrence Frank and Company describes the impact of land use on GHG emissions.
Powering Our Communities - Renewable Energy Guide for Local Governments. Section 9 of this 2008 guide by the Community Energy Association has ideas on Official Community Plan policies to support renewable energy
Sample Official Community Plans With Climate Change Policies
A number of BC local governments have already developed official community plans that contain policies related to greenhouse gas mitigation and energy efficiency. The following OCPs offer examples of best practice policies that may be useful examples for Local Trust Committees developing climate change policies for their OCPs.
Salt Spring Island OCP (2MB PDF). Includes policies on climate change.
Denman Island OCP. Includes policies on climate change.
Village of Kaslo OCP (Draft) (5MB PDF). Contains policies on local food security and decreasing GHG reduction and reliance on external energy sources.
District of Saanich OCP (8MB PDF). Contains policies on climate change and sustainable land use
District of Squamish OCP (Draft). Includes policies on energy use and air and GHG emissions.
District of Ucluelet OCP. Contains policies modeled on smart growth principles, including compact and mixed use development, alternative development standards, and multi-modal transportation.
City of Vernon OCP. Contains policies on energy efficiency.
Saanich Climate Action Plan. Released November 5, 2009 this draft plan proposes new greenhouse gas reduction targets for Saanich's community and municipal operations and lays out proposed strategies and actions to achieve these goals.
Energy and Sustainability Planning
Community Energy and Emissions Planning: A Guide for BC Local Governments. Produced by Community Energy Association, this guide describes the purpose and content of a community energy and emissions plan, its benefits, and how to go about creating one. The guide provides practical tips, examples from BC communities, and links to more detailed information.
Smart Planning for Communities. A BC-wide initiative to support and provide local governments with the resources and tools to plan socially, culturally, economically, and environmentally sustainable communities. SPC’s regional Sustainability Facilitators help build partnerships and facilitate information sharing.
Energy Sustainability Planning: What’s in it for my Community? A brief for elected government officials on the benefits of community energy planning produced by Community Energy Association.
Partners for Climate Protection. Federation of Canadian Municipalities PCP program details a five-milestone framework for reducing GHG emissions, including development of a local action plan.
BC Sustainable Energy Association. An engaged network of citizens, businesses, and governments working together to put innovative sustainable energy solutions into practice today.
Opportunities for Local Government Action on Energy Efficiency in New
Buildings. A document to assist local governments in promoting energy efficiency in new buildings.
Energy Efficiency & Buildings: A Resource for BC’s Local Governments (3MB PDF). A
resource manual for BC local governments providing an overview of policy tools and leading civic building operations that advance energy efficiency.
A Guide to Green Choices. Produced by Ministry of Community and Rural Development, this guide provides practical advice and ideas for land use to build green communities.
CEA Energy Sustainability Case Study Guide. A directory of practical, energy-related case studies to assist local governments in energy planning, efficiency, and renewable energy.
Density Bonus and Other Policy Options for Energy Efficiency. Prepared by the Pembina Institute and Deborah Curran for the Capital Regional District and Salt Spring Island, this report analyzes policy options to help Salt Spring meet targets to reduce energy consumption in new residential buildings.
Microhydro Feasibility Study for Salt Spring Island (2MB PDF). Prepared for the Salt Spring Island Community Energy Strategy and the CRD, this study provides an overview of the potential for microhydro generation on Salt Spring Island.
Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis for New Residential Buildings. Prepared for the Salt Spring Island LTC, this report provides an assessment of the potential costs and benefits, energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions resulting from physical changes to new homes on Salt Spring Island.
Policy and Governance - Renewable Energy Guide for Local Governments in BC. This 2008 guide by the Community Energy Association outlines local government renewable energy opportunities such as:
- Local government policy frameworks that encourage or require developers to incorporate neighbourhood-scale renewable energy technologies (or ‘microgeneration') into new developments
- Removing barriers to renewable energy in the planning and permitting systems
- Encouraging independent power producers to develop local renewable energy projects
- Encouraging renewable energy utility companies to develop local renewable energy projects, such as ground-source heating and renewable district energy.
Transportation Planning
Transportation Demand Management: A Small and Mid-Size Communities Toolkit (3MB PDF). Produced by the Fraser Basin Council, this TDM toolkit offers insights on how to expand transportation options and reduce overall vehicle use in your community – including case studies to illustrate successful bicycle and active transportation programs, intercommunity transit, carpooling, car-sharing and parking strategies
Casual Carpooling: A Background Guide. Prepared by UVic Environmental Law Centre Society researcher Shannon Gibson, this 40-page guide focuses on legal and administrative issues involved in establishing a car stop system; investigates carpooling systems in other communities; and offers recommendations.
Other Relevant Resources
Greenhouse Gas and Energy Co-Benefits of Water Conservation. A 2009 report by Carol Mass at the UVic POLIS Project on Ecological Governance examines the interconnections and implications for both energy and water policy and conservation. The author quantifies the significant untapped opportunity for water conservation to reduce energy, save municipal dollars and mitigate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. This study demonstrates how conserving water translates into saving energy and is an important element in any climate change policy.
Climate Leadership, Economic Prosperity: Final report on an economic study of greenhouse gas targets and policies for Canada. The Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation commissioned an in-depth 2009 study of federal and provincial government policies to allow Canada to meet a “2°C target” to reduce GHG emissions to 25 per cent below the 1990 level by 2020, as well as the federal government’s current target. The analysis shows that with strong federal and provincial government policies, Canada can meet the 2°C emissions target in 2020 and still have a strong growing economy, a quality of life higher than Canadians enjoy today, and continued steady job creation across the country. The analysis also shows that the federal government needs to implement far stronger policies than it has proposed to date to meet its current GHG target.
Act Locally – The Municipal Role in Fighting Climate Change. This 2009 report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities chronicles what Canada´s municipalities are doing to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how much more they could do as full partners in a national climate change strategy.
West Coast Climate Equity. This website with vast amounts of information is provided by the West CoastClimate Equity Association, a British Columbia based society of climate activists and writers concerned with the threat of runaway global warming.
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