TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 14, 2026 Report No. DEV-26-038
TO: Council
FROM: Jakub Lisowski, Planner II - Policy, and Hank Tsui, Planning Technician, Development Services
SUBJECT: 2025 Climate Action Annual Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council receive the 2025 Climate Action Annual Report and the 2025 Esquimalt Local Government Climate Action Program Survey as attached to Staff Report No. DEV-26-038 for information and,
That the Council priority related to the development of an action plan to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 to 2030 be marked as complete in the 2023 - 2026 Council Priorities Plan.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This report provides an opportunity to discuss recent climate action at the Township of Esquimalt. The 2025 Climate Action Annual Report (Attachment 1) provides an analysis of the Township’s progress to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and provides the 2025 Activity Report as a pared down table from the 2022 Climate Action Plan, summarizing recent actions taken to help mitigate global warming and to build the Township’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
BACKGROUND:
Climate action and GHG emissions accounting are ongoing activities for the Township of Esquimalt since becoming BC Climate Action Charter members in 2008. At the Climate Action Planning Workshop in 2023 Council directed staff to begin providing an annual report on climate actions that are tied to specific strategies and targets in the climate plan. The attached 2025 Climate Action Annual Report (Attachment 1) is the requested report with the 2025 Activity Report provided as Appendix A.
Referral Comments:
The Internal Climate Action Working Group met to discuss 2022 Climate Action Plan items, opportunities for cooperation on regional initiatives, corporate greenhouse gas accounting, and the provincial Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) survey (Attachment 2).
ANALYSIS:
Climate action and GHG accounting are complex topics that are impacted by priorities within the organization and from influences outside the organization.
The scope of our GHG emissions are largely provided by regional, provincial, and federal governments and various national organizations and researchers. GHG accounting involves tracking operational fuel consumption for buildings and fleet vehicles in the delivery of services to the community. Fuel consumption levels from contracted services are also tracked and converted into GHG emissions levels, based on provincial guidelines.
The Annual Report contains data showing that corporate greenhouse gas emissions have gradually declined between 2022 and 2025 although the there was a slight increase in greenhouse gas emissions associated with municipal buildings between 2024 and 2025. Previously, council instructed staff to prepare a “roadmap” showing how corporate greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030. Council also approved $30,000.00 in the budget to fund this study. However, since the motion was passed, staff have acquired significant information related to this matter including the recent, Building Retrofit Feasibility Study that was presented to Council on April 20, 2026. This study contained “Building Condition Assessments” for each of the major buildings owned by the Township along with proposed retrofits that would result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The recommendations of this study constitute a de facto roadmap that will help the Township achieve its goal of greenhouse gas emissions reduction from its building stock although the timeline will depend on budget allocations for the recommended building retrofits. Similarly, staff are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with vehicle emissions. Given this recent acquisition data associated with the reduction of corporate greenhouse gas emissions, staff do not believe that is necessary to spend $30,000.00 on a study to create a roadmap, but rather they use existing information and experience to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as opportunities and budgets allow.
In summary, climate actions are guided by the 2022 Climate Action Plan, collaborative opportunities available within the region, and by financing available from provincial and federal sources as well as non-profits.
Environmental Impact:
Regular reporting on climate action provides accountability and provides insight into where progress has been made towards our targets and where we need to increase our efforts. There are no environmental impacts associated with climate action reporting. The 2022 Climate Action Plan supports reporting with Action 5.1 which reads: “Develop an annual progress report that ties to specific strategies and targets in this plan”.
OPTIONS:
Option 1
That Council receive the 2025 Climate Action Annual Report and the 2025 Esquimalt Local Government Climate Action Program Survey as attached to Staff Report No. DEV-26-038 for information and,
That the Council priority related to the development of an action plan to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 to 2030 be marked as complete in the 2023 - 2026 Council Priorities Plan
Option 2
That Council provide alternate direction to staff.
Option 3
That Council request additional information from staff.
COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Climate Resilience and Environmental Stewardship - Develop an annual progress report that ties to specific strategies within the climate plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of climate action reporting needs to be balanced with the need to dedicate staff time to climate action. The potential impacts of future climate initiatives would need to be explored through an impact assessment before adding them to the current Council Priority Plan.
Further, staff believe that it is not necessary to spend the $30,000.00 budgeted to create a roadmap outlining how corporate greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030. Staff believe that they can work towards this goal using existing reports and their recent experience related to the impact of retrofits on greenhouse gas emissions.
COMMUNICATIONS/ENGAGEMENT:
This report has not created any public engagement activities. The CleanBC (LGCAP) survey has been posted on the Esquimalt.ca website, as required by the province.
TIMELINES & NEXT STEPS:
Council should consider if they wish to undertake any specific actions based on the 2025 Climate Action Annual Report and provide applicable direction to staff.
REPORT REVIEWED BY:
1. Bill Brown, Director of Development Services, Reviewed
2. Deb Hopkins, Director of Corporate Services, Reviewed
3. Ian Irvine, Director of Finance, Reviewed
4. Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer, Concurrence
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:
1. Attachment 1: 2025 Climate Action Annual Report with action table
2. Attachment 2: Esquimalt’s completed 2025 LGCAP survey
3. Attachment 3: Staff presentation