Office of Climate Action & Environment Date
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Corporation of Delta F.02 COUNCIL REPORT Regular Meeting To: Mayor and Council From: Office of Climate Action & Environment Date: May 10, 2016 2015 Climate Action Report The following report has been reviewed and endorsed by the Chief Administrative Officer. II RECOMMENDATIONS: A. THAT the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program progress report included as Attachment A be endorsed for submission to the Province and be shared with the public on Delta's website. B. THAT staff bring forward for consideration an updated Corporate Climate Change Initiative with new goals and targets for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. C. THAT this report be provided to the Environment Advisory Committee. D. THAT this report be provided to the Honourable Mary Polak, Minister of Environment, Scott Hamilton, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Delta North and Vicki Huntington, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Delta South. II PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of Delta's 2015 climate action progress and to present Delta's Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program report to Council for endorsement. II BACKGROUND: Delta's Climate Change Initiative was initially approved by Council in July 2007 and has been revised since then as needed. Delta's Climate Change Initiative includes a goal of reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 2007 levels by 2015. Corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption are regularly inventoried. In 2007, Delta signed the British Columbia Climate Action Charter, a non-binding memorandum of understanding where signatories agree to create complete and Page 2 of 4 2015 Climate Action Report May 10, 2016 compact communities, measure and reduce community and corporate greenhouse gas emissions and become carbon neutral in corporate operations by 2012. The Climate Action Charter voluntarily commits local government to three goals: • Become carbon neutral in civic corporate operations by 2012; • Measure and report on their community greenhouse gas emissions profile; and • Create complete, compact and more energy efficient communities. Those communities that have signed the Climate Action Charter are eligible to receive 100% of the carbon tax paid on natural gas and vehicle fuels as a rebate through the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program. II DISCUSSION: Conditions set by the Province require that local governments publicly report on their progress towards meeting the above goals of the Climate Action Charter by June 1, 2016 in order to receive their 2015 rebate. Attachment A is the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program report which summarizes Delta's 2015 climate action. It is recommended that this report be submitted to the Province and be posted on Delta's website (Recommendation A). Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reductions Delta's corporate greenhouse gas emission baseline for 2007 was 7,411 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The most recent inventory conducted for 2015 found annual emissions associated with corporate buildings and fleet were 5,798 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This represents a 21 % reduction in emissions from the 2007 levels, meaning the target established by Delta Council of reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 2007 levels by 2015 was achieved. This annual reduction in emissions is equivalent to the emissions of approximately 320 vehicles over a one year period. Delta's corporate greenhouse gas emissions are primarily associated with the operations of the municipal buildings and fleet. A large portion of the reductions in emissions achieved was the result of major energy retrofits at Sungod Recreation Centre and Ladner Leisure Centre. Greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 29% at Sungod Recreation Centre and 41 % at Ladner Leisure Centre from 2007 levels. The two outdoor pools have seen reductions of approximately 41 % from 2007 levels as a result of the use of pool covers and solar heating at the Ladner pool. Efficiencies made to the fleet and the conversion to lower carbon blends of fuel including biodiesel and ethanol blended gasoline also contributed to the reductions that were realized. In 2012, the measurement of contracted emissions and the inclusion of those emissions in the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program Progress report was mandated by the Province. Contracted emissions are now calculated on an annual basis and added to the corporate total. For 2015 this figure was 7,517 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Page 3 of 4 2015 Climate Action Report May 10, 2016 Given that the 2007 target has been achieved, it is recommended that staff bring forward for consideration an updated Corporate Climate Change Initiative with new goals and targets for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. (Recommendation 8) Carbon Neutrality One of the voluntary commitments of the Climate Action Charter (the Charter) is to become carbon neutral in civic (corporate) operations by 2012. Carbon neutrality means that emissions are reduced as much as possible and remaining emissions are balanced or offset through other measures. Under the Charter, offsets may be purchased from a third-party carbon offset provider or be accounted for through a local carbon reduction project. For the 2015 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program, signatories of the Charter must declare on the Carbon Neutral Progress Survey if they are "carbon neutral" through reductions and offsets or are "making progress towards carbon neutrality", i.e. taking steps to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions but not yet carbon neutral by June 2, 2015. The Carbon Neutral Progress Survey must be submitted to the Province in order to receive a carbon tax refund; however this refund is not contingent upon the municipality being "carbon neutral". For the 2012, 2013 and 2014 reporting years Delta achieved carbon neutrality through the use of carbon offset credits from two local projects, the household organic waste collection program and the Vancouver Landfill Gas Capture Optimization Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Project. Enough credits from these two projects are available for Delta to continue to be carbon neutral for 2015 and this is documented in the attached report to the Province. Delta's carbon neutrality will be confirmed through correspondence that is provided back from the Province after receiving and reviewing the report. Community Climate Action As part of the Climate Change Initiative and Community Energy and Emissions Plan, community climate action has been delivered through various planning, engineering and public outreach initiatives and programs. Highlights from 2015 include work on the revision of the Zoning Bylaw where opportunities to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions are being investigated, approximately 20 large scale developments were assessed using Delta's Green Growth Index, 630 new trees were planted as part of the Trees for Tomorrow and Urban Reforestation Programs, two elementary school rain gardens were installed, and several agricultural climate change adaptation projects were implemented. A complete summary of 2015 community climate action is included in Attachment A. Page 4 of 4 2015 Climate Action Report May 10, 2016 Implications: Financial Implications - the estimated Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program rebate for 2015 is approximately $192,000. Council previously resolved that these funds be directed to a Climate Action Reserve Account that will be used to fund greenhouse gas reduction projects and also considered in conjunction with other capital projects approved by Council. • CONCLUSION: Many actions have taken place working towards meeting Delta's greenhouse gas reduction goals. It is recommended that the attached report that is required for Delta's Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program be endorsed for submission to the Province and be posted on Delta's website. Delta's accomplishment of reducing corporate greenhouse gases by 21 % from 2007 levels and the achievement of carbon neutrality for the fourth consecutive year will be highlighted. Mike Brotherston Manager of Climate Action and Environment Department submission prepared by: Mike Brotherston This report has been prepared in consultation with the following listed departments. Department Name Community Planning & Jeff Day Develo ment Engineering Steven Lan Finance Karl Preuss Human Resources and Corporate Sean McGill Plannin I,'. Parks, Recreation & Culture Ken Kuntz • ATTACHMENT: A. 2015 Climate Action Survey report Page 1 of 14 local Government: Corporation of Delta Report Submitted by: Name: Mike Brotherston Role: Manager of Climate Action & Environment Email: [email protected] Phone: 604-946-3281 Date: May 10, 2016 The Corporation of Delta has completed the 2015 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) Public Report as required by the Province of Be. The CARIP report summarizes actions taken in 2015 and proposed for 2016 to reduce corporate and community-wide energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and reports on progress towards achieving carbon neutrality. There is also an opportunity to report on climate adaptation actions. 1 I f' Page 2 of 14 2015 BROAD PLANNING ACTIONS Planning Actions Broad planning refers to high level planning that sets the stage for GHG emissions reductions, including plans such as Official Community Plans, Integrated Community Sustainability Plans, Climate Action Plans or Community Energy Emissions Plans. Land use planning that focuses on Smart