Climate Action Toolkit: December 2021 Newsletter

Source:

Climate Action Updates for BC Communities - December 2021 (campaigner.com)

Tue, 12/07/2021

Climate Action Solutions for BC Communities

Funding Opportunities

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant

Apply by January 15, 2022

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This grant supports a wide range of environmental initiatives, with a primary focus on environmental education and green space programs. Eligible projects include schoolyard greening, park revitalization, community gardens, park programming and citizen science initiatives. Municipalities and Indigenous communities and groups are eligible to receive funding.

Click here to learn more and apply to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant.

First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund

Apply by January 31, 2022

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The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund promotes increased Indigenous community participation in the clean energy sector within their asserted traditional territories and treaty areas. The fund provides agreements between the B.C. Government and successful applicants for Capacity funding and Equity funding. Capacity funding assists with clean energy project feasibility studies, community energy planning or engaging with project proponents. Equity funding supports a financially viable and resourced clean energy project with an Energy Purchase Agreement.

Click here to learn more and apply to the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund.

CleanBC Go Electric Fleets Program

Continuous funding until March 1, 2023 or until funds are fully expended

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The CleanBC Go Electric Fleets Program is one of a suite of programs offered under the Province’s CleanBC Go Electric Programs, which are designed to reduce barriers to the adoption of zero-emission vehicles to realize both their environmental and economic benefits. The Fleets Program supports fleets in British Columbia in their efforts toward deploying Zero-Emission vehicles by offering technical and financial support through resources and tools, training sessions, a fleet advisor, and various rebates.

Click here to learn more and apply to the CleanBC Go Electric Fleets Program.

Climate Action Partners Program

Continuous funding

FortisBC’s Climate Action Partners Program offers resources to help local governments, Indigenous communities and other organizations achieve their climate action goals. FortisBC offers funding for organizations to hire their own Senior Energy Specialist (SES), a designated member of the team dedicated to applying a suite of energy solutions to help them achieve their climate action goals – be it within the organization or community.

Click here to learn more and apply to the Climate Action Partners Program.

What's New

CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 Launched

The CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 plan accelerates measures in BC's climate plan that has been proven effective and introduces new ideas to help BC achieve the Paris emissions reduction targets for 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. The Roadmap includes a series of actions across eight pathways, which include new requirements to make all new buildings zero-carbon by 2030 and developing new ZEV targets for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Click here to read more about the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030.

Nelson & Castlegar to Investigate Ways to Reduce Embodied Carbon in the Building Sector

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The City of Nelson and City of Castlegar have begun investigating ways to reduce the overall carbon emissions associated with new residential home construction in the region. Over the past three months, the Low Carbon Homes Pilot has led the region to understand better the carbon emissions produced from manufacturing the materials used in building a new home (i.e. upfront embodied carbon). The pilot established a benchmark amount of embodied carbon for a typical new residential home in Nelson and Castlegar. It found that a substantial reduction in embodied carbon could occur by using readily available alternative building products.

Click here to read more about the work being done by Nelson & Castlegar in embodied carbon.

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Vancouver Launches First $100 Million Sustainability Bond

The City of Vancouver issued its first sustainability bond offering of $100 million in late October to fund environmentally and socially sustainable initiatives and projects, while offering investors competitive returns. This is the first sustainability bond issued by any Canadian government entity, and was very well received by the investment community, with demand of approximately four times the issuance size. Under the Sustainability Bond Framework, net proceeds are used to finance Council-approved capital projects that support Vancouver's commitment to positive environmental goals, social responsibility, and economic development across its communities.

Click here to read more about Vancouver's Sustainability Bond.

Fraser Valley Regional District Releases Air Quality Management Plan

The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) has released its latest Air Quality Management Plan to improve the quality of air to benefit the health of everyone living, working and playing in the region. The new plan reflects the latest air quality trends, data and research. It was developed in collaboration with FVRD municipalities and other stakeholders in the Lower Fraser Valley airshed to ensure important regional air quality concerns were identified.

Click here to read more about the FVRD Air Quality Management Plan.

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City of Victoria Releases New Solar Rooftop Tool

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The City has developed the Solar Rooftop Tool with support from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria to inform Victoria residents and businesses of their building’s potential to generate electricity using solar panels. The Solar Rooftop Tool can be used to determine the amount of sunshine almost any building in Victoria receives over the course of a year and provides information on power generation potential, how much a solar system might cost, available rebates, and financing options. Solar panels can be installed on most roofs and are available for residential, commercial, and industrial uses.

Click here to read more about the Solar Rooftop Tool.

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qathet Regional District Implements Critical Incident Stress Management Peer Support Program for Fire Fighters

Firefighter gear.jpg The qathet Regional District (qRD) has implemented a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Peer Support program to address occupational mental health stresses and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among volunteer firefighters, who regularly attend fires and other challenging incidents. The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation defines CISM as a method of helping first responders and others who have been involved in critical incidents that leave them emotionally or physically affected by those incidents. CISM is a practice that enables peers to help peers understand problems that might occur after an event. This method helps first responders prepare to continue to perform their services or return to a normal lifestyle. Research in this field has shown tremendous success with peer support programs for first responders.

Click here to read more about the Peer Support Program

FEATURED RESOURCES: Propelling your climate action efforts

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Mitacs Municipal Internship Program

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: PICS Internship Program

REPORT: Natural Assets Management Considerations for Engineering and Geoscience Professionals

ARTICLE: Cities produce 60% of global greenhouse gases. Here are some ideas to fix this from a B.C. delegate at COP26

ARTICLE: Advocacy Outcomes of Cities and Regions in the COP26 Negotiation Process

HEADS UP: For municipal climate action enthusiasts

Community Climate Transitions Cohort

Over 10 months, a group of trailblazing communities from across Canada will take part in a learning journey to develop and implement community plans for a just and equitable climate transition. Community changemakers from inside and outside of local governments are invited to come together and learn how to develop a common vision and common agenda among local stakeholders through collective impact. The deadline to apply is December 13, 2021. Learn more about this free cohort program here.

Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals

This online course runs from January 24 to February 20, 2022. It will inform participants about climate adaptation policy in Canada and BC and will allow them to consider how climate policy from international to local levels informs their professional functions and day to day activities on the job. The course costs $325+GST. Click here to sign-up for the Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals course.

Just Climate Policies with Taco Niet

Addressing the climate crisis in an equitable and just way will require significant policy and infrastructure changes in a short timeframe. It is imperative that the decisions we make now are grounded in principles of justice and equity while ensuring that the path we chart reduces emissions and avoids environmental collapse. To make effective choices, we need evidence-based decision-making tools like models to evaluate our choices and identify pathways with the best chance of solving the climate crisis. This free event will be held online on January 25 from 6:30-8:00pm PST. Click here to sign-up for the Just Climate Policies event.

BCIT's Community Energy Management Courses

This is an interdisciplinary sequence of six online courses that provides an opportunity to refresh disciplines that you are already familiar with by viewing them through an energy lens while introducing new tools and concepts. Courses include "Introduction to Community Energy & Emissions Planning" and "Community-Based Renewable Energy," and are fee-based. Click here to register for the Community Energy Management courses.

GLOBE Forum 2022

The GLOBE Forum is taking place from February 15-17, 2022 in Vancouver and also virtually. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is leading the Local Solutions to Net Zero theme, which will aim to answer the question, "What are the opportunities for cities and communities to lead the way to a net-zero future?" The other themes at the conference are: Innovation and Adoption; Policy, Regulation and Corporate Governance; Finance and Investment; Just Transition; and, Beyond Net Zero. Early-bird registration ends on January 7. Learn more and register for the GLOBE Forum here.

Climate Leaders Institute: Bringing it Home in the Decade of Action

The Climate Leaders Institute (CLI) is an opportunity for BC local elected officials to come together for peer mentorship, support, tools, and inspiration on accelerating climate action in your community. The BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council (BCMCLC) and Community Energy Association (CEA) invite you to learn and practice key climate solutions that will work in your community at the 2022 Climate Leaders Institute, to be held February 22-24, 2022. Learn more about the 2022 Climate Leaders Institute here.

Manitoba Climate Resilience Training Courses

Many courses are being offered for free through the Manitoba Climate Resilience Training program, and quite a few are applicable to BC residents including foundational courses, courses with a focus on Indigenous knowledges and the Indigenous Climate Atlas, climate communications courses, and infrastructure and planning courses. Courses have different start dates and are running between November 2021 and March 2022. Click here to register for the Manitoba Climate Resilience Training courses.

EVENT: Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA) COP26 Roadmap - Wrapping up COP26 and previewing COP27, Dec. 15

EVENT: FCM E-Learning Series - Tackling Energy Use in Your Municipal and Community Buildings

The BC Climate Action Toolkit is provided in partnership with the Green Communities Committtee, a joint British Columbia Provincial - Union of British Columbia Municipalities committee and the Fraser Basin Council.

Stay Connected to the BC Climate Action Toolkit

Need more information?

info@toolkit.bc.ca