REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: January 22, 2019 Report No. DEV-19-008
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Tricia deMacedo, Policy Planner and Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Membership in the Partners for Climate Protection
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council:
1. approve that the Township of Esquimalt join the Partners for Climate Protection program as a member, and authorize the signing of the Council Resolution to Join the Partners for Climate Protection Program attached as Appendix A to Staff Report DEV-19-008 ;
2. appoint the Chief Administrative Officer, with power to designate other staff, and one elected official to oversee program implementation; and
3. endorse the Township’s participation in the Residential Retrofit Acceleration Project and authorize staff to sign the Memorandum of Understanding attached as Appendix C to Staff Report DEV-19-008.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Official Community Plan
BC Climate Action Charter
Regional Growth Strategy
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Strategic Priority: “We strengthen the health, livability, and diversity of the community”.
Strategic Goal: “Develop and implement strategies that reduce impact on the environment, consistent with our Climate Action Charter goals”.
BACKGROUND:
Appendix A: Council Resolution to join the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection Program
Appendix B: Residential Retrofit Acceleration Project Summary
Appendix C: Memorandum of Understanding between City Green Solutions and the Township of Esquimalt
The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program is a network of Canadian municipal governments that have committed to reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and to acting on climate change. There are approximately 350 municipal governments across Canada that belong to the PCP, including about 85 BC municipalities and regional governments. Locally, the District of Saanich, City of Victoria and the District of Central Saanich are all members. The PCP program is administered by a partnership between the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability.
The program assists municipalities to take action against climate change by following a five-milestone framework. The five milestones are intended to be completed in chronological order; however some municipalities choose to move immediately to the third milestone - developing a local action plan - to begin reducing emissions right away. The Township’s progress on the five PCP milestones is outlined in the Table below.
|
Milestone |
FCM - PCP |
Township of Esquimalt |
|
|
|
Corporate |
Community |
|
1 |
Create a Corporate & Community GHG emissions inventory and forecast |
Partial |
Partial |
|
2 |
Set a Corporate & Community emissions reductions target |
Complete |
Complete |
|
3 |
Develop a Corporate & Community local action plan |
|
|
|
4 |
Implement the Corporate & Community local action plan or a set of activities |
|
|
|
5 |
Monitor progress and report results |
|
|
PCP provides support to its members to achieve these milestones, including:
• Technical support tools;
• Access to a network of local governments across Canada that offer experience and examples;
• Access to grants and low-interest loans;
• Capacity building resources, including workshops, case studies and training opportunities; and,
• Awards and recognition.
There is no cost for membership in the PCP. The application to PCP consists of a Council resolution (suggested wording Appendix A), and designation of one staff member and one elected official to be the contacts for the program. The Township would be expected to make progress reports every two years, with the ultimate goal of achieving all five milestones in ten years.
A major advantage of joining the PCP is the access to funding for climate initiatives. The non-profit City Green has submitted a proposal to FCM’s Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program on behalf of eight Vancouver Island municipalities and regional districts (including the Township), and the Home Performance Stakeholder Council (industry). The project, entitled Residential Retrofit Acceleration Project (RRAP) has received funding for two years with a $400,000 Transition 2050 Partner Grant (Appendix B). The project will enable the Township to leverage resources, training and data while assisting homeowners with residential retrofits for energy efficiency. This project directly addresses policy in the OCP (13.3.3.2: Encourage the adoption of passive, efficient, and renewable energy systems in new buildings and during building retrofits). A requirement of our participation in this project is that the Township become a member of the PCP.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The PCP is a well established program, operating since 1994, with over 350 member municipalities in Canada. The FCM Partners for Climate Protection Program (PCP) is a potential funding source for future municipal projects aimed at reducing GHG emissions. The PCP program’s framework is aligned with achieving the Township’s BC Climate Action Charter commitments and community GHG emission reduction targets. Membership will increase the Township’s ability to plan and take action on Climate Change. Membership is also a condition of our participation in the Residential Retrofit Acceleration Program.
2. Organizational Implications
One staff member and one elected official should be designated as contacts for the PCP program. Any reporting requirements will be the responsibility of the Development Services department as that is the location of most sustainability initiatives. The Residential Retrofit Acceleration Project is managed by City Green in partnership with municipalities such as Esquimalt (Memorandum of Understanding, Appendix C).
3. Financial Implications
There is no cost to the Township to participate as a member of PCP. Membership will however increase the opportunity to access grant funding for climate planning and initiatives, such as the Residential Retrofit Acceleration Program.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
Participation in the Residential Retrofit Acceleration Project will help the Township reduce emissions from buildings in the Township, which account for approximately half of Esquimalt’s community emissions. This project will therefore move Esquimalt closer to achieving the OCP goal of being a carbon neutral community by 2050.
5. Communication & Engagement
No communication or engagement is necessary to participate in the PCP program. The PCP makes regular announcements about new members and their milestone achievements on their website and through their own reporting and engagement processes.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council:
(1) approve that the Township to join the Partners for Climate Protection program as a member and authorize staff to sign ;
(2) appoint the Chief Administrative officer with power to designated to other staff and one elected official to oversee program implementation; and
(3) endorse the Township’s participation in the Residential Retrofit Acceleration Project and authorize staff to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.
2. That Council not approve that the Township join the Partners for Climate Protection program as a member and direct staff to advise City Green that the Township will not be participating in the Residential Retrofit Acceleration Project.