REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: September 15, 2020 Report No. EAC-20-004
TO: Environmental Advisory Committee
FROM: Tricia deMacedo, Policy Planner, EAC Staff Liaison
SUBJECT:
Title
Draft Esquimalt Climate Adaptation Planning Guide
End
RELEVANT POLICY:
Climate Action Charter
Declaration of Climate Emergency
Official Community Plan
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Develop and implement strategies that reduce impact on the environment consistent with our Climate Action Charter goals.
BACKGROUND:
In the spring of 2018, the Township joined a partnership with ICLEI Canada and eight communities from Vancouver Island in the Together for Climate Project to develop a climate change adaptation plan for each municipality. The purpose of a climate adaptation plan is to prepare the Township by taking action to reduce the risks climate change poses to the Township’s physical, economic, social, and ecological systems.
This involves:
• Identifying locally relevant climate change impacts
• Completing organizational vulnerability and risk assessments
• Establishing long-term adaptation vision and goals
• Identifying relevant adaptation actions
• Developing implementation action plans
The EAC has been provided with several updates on the progress of this planning project, most recently in July, 2020 when the EAC was presented with a set of objectives, strategies and actions that stakeholders and staff have developed.
Attached is the draft Esquimalt Climate Adaptation Planning Guide for the EAC’s review. This report will be presented to Council, along with any recommendations from the EAC, at a later date this fall.
The next step is for the recommendations in this report to be presented to the public as part of the engagement for the Esquimalt Climate Action Plan. In addition, an implementation plan will be developed that will specify in more detail what the organizational and financial implications of taking action, as well as timeframes and prioritization of the actions and strategies. The final climate action plan will include both adaptation measures and the mitigation measures for the Township.
This report is presented to the EAC for their review and comment and potential recommendation to Council.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
N/A
2. Organizational Implications
This will be determined in more detail as an implementation plan is developed for the actions in the report.
3. Financial Implications
The implementation plan help determine the financial implications of undertaking these actions as proposed. Adaptation planning for many of these risks is less expensive than responding to climate emergencies as they occur or after the fact. In addition, there are many complementary benefits that can be realized through completion of the actions.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
Implementation of the plan will prepare the residents and the Township facilities and infrastructure for the ongoing and future impacts of climate change. In addition, some of the actions have environmental co-benefits such as reduced vehicle emissions, increased tree planting and biodiversity protection.
5. Communication & Engagement
The communications strategy for the entire climate planning process is still being developed. Adaptation education and engagement will be included in the plan.