By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
The Town of Oliver is taking additional steps to mitigate and adapt to climate change through a program recommended by the Community Energy Association (CEA).
Peter Robinson and Tami Rothery of the CEA gave a presentation to council on Aug. 8 about climate action and what municipalities can do, not only to reduce the impacts but how to prepare for and adapt to them.
Robinson said so much work has been spent on the mitigating side, but “we are behind on climate preparedness and adaptation.”
He pointed out that CEA is the only non-profit group in B.C. focused exclusively on supporting local governments and Indigenous communities on climate/energy activities.
Robinson said if we want to ensure that we have reasonable climate going forward, we “need to keep things within the threshold of 1.5 degrees C.”
He stated the urgency in achieving 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2050 to have a reasonable chance of staying within this 1.5-degree threshold.
Rothery said there are “hundreds” of actions you can take to mitigate or reduce the risk of climate change. These include shifting beyond the car, electrifying passenger transportation, decarbonizing commercial transportation, enhancing energy efficiency in new buildings, and diverting organics from the waste stream.
Rothery reminded council of the strong link between its infrastructure decisions and climate action.
She noted the importance of low-carbon resiliency to reduce the carbon footprint of adaptation. The key is finding the “sweet spot” between reducing emissions and managing the impacts, she said.
Rothery gave the example of building a sea wall out of concrete, which is a carbon intensive material. Building this wall adapts us to sea level rise but actually hightens the impact that is causing sea rise in the first place.
Rothery said it is everybody’s job to reduce emissions.
“This isn’t just about saving polar bears and protecting parks, this has a number of economic, environmental and social co-benefits (such as protecting property values and increasing livability).”
Oliver’s Official Community Plan contains greenhouse gas reduction targets of two per cent (from 2007 levels) by 2020, and 10 per cent by 2030.
Its corporate energy plan target is 10 per cent reduction (from 2009 levels) by 2020.
Robinson pointed out that Oliver will receive $78,000 in climate action funding for the next three years, which will pay for a “light mitigation” approach that will cost $30,000 (for a community and corporate plan).
Councillor Aimee Grice said Oliver is already doing a lot to reduce emissions, but she voted to support the light mitigation plan.
Chief Administrative Officer Ed Chow said the plan will help the municipality be more successful in obtaining grant funding in the future.
Mayor Martin Johansen said it is prudent to be prepared, adding that good planning is where you have success down the road.
