Topic: climate mitigation

Creating Complete, Compact and Energy-Efficient Communities in BC: How Fiscal Tools Can Be An Opportunity For Local Governments

The research paper is intended to assist the provincial and local governments of British Columbia, citizens, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in expanding the conversation on the tools available for local governments to create complete, compact, and energy-efficient communities. Its focus is on fiscal tools to reduce sprawl, increase density, and support a reduction in car dependency, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions. This paper examines those tools presently available to local governments, and those that could be available through changes in legislative powers.

Transportation Demand Management

Transportation Demand Management (TDM, also called Mobility Management) is a general term for strategies that result in more efficient use of transportation resources. This TDM Encyclopedia is a comprehensive source of information about innovative management solutions to transportation problems. It provides detailed information on dozens of demand management strategies, plus general information on TDM planning and evaluation techniques. It is produced by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute to increase understanding and implementation of TDM.

Community Energy Planning: The Value Proposition

Community Energy Plans (CEPs) provide the pathway for communities to become aware of and take part in solid economic returns on investments, environmental gains, health benefits, and improved quality of life for local residents.

Canadian cities, towns and villages have influence over approximately 60 percent of energy consumption and over half of all GHG emissions in Canada. Consequently, communities have the potential to make significant contributions to addressing Canada’s current and future energy and climate challenges.

A Community Energy Plan (CEP) is a tool that drives community priorities around energy with a view to increasing efficiency, reducing emissions and driving economic development.

The report draws primarily on the findings of six comprehensive economic analyses of CEP actions and programs, and case studies to illustrate the value proposition of CEP implementation to communities across Canada.

Cycling Concepts

The Cycling Embassy of Denmark has a mission is to encourage cycling all over the world by sharing their knowledge and expertise in the area of cycling. Cities worldwide face challenges related to the effects of car-oriented city planning, which leads to congestion, air pollution, noise, physical inactivity, CO2 emissions and crowded and unattractive public spaces are damaging our cities. It is proposed by the Cycling Embassy of Denmark that cycling is a key component in tackling these challenges.

Denmark has over 100 years of experience planning bicycle traffic. As a result, they have a high share of cyclists. Visit the Cycling Embassy of Denmark (CED) to gain knowledge about bicycle traffic with cities around the world working to promote cycling as a transport mode.

Clean Energy for a Green Economy

Clean Energy for a Green Economy is an introduction guide to the wide range of clean energy strategies and green economy opportunities for rural communities in British Columbia. Rural communities can benefit by leading the development of clean energy and energy efficiency, and the transition to a green economy.

Primary benefits include:

  • improved air quality
  • local economic development through attracting investment, clean energy job
    creation, infrastructure development and keeping energy dollars circulating locally
  • increased local energy reliability, resilience and security.

These projects can result in significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, which support local, provincial and global climate objectives. The report is written written primarily for local governments and band councils, elected officials and staff, to support an active local government and band role in the development of clean energy and a green economy.

Carshare

Carsharing serves as an environmental and social purpose by decreasing personal car ownership, reducing vehicle distance travelled, improving urban land use and development, providing affordable access to vehicles for individuals. Using carsharing services, decreases the dependence on fossil fuels while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Learn more about carsharing at the Shared-Use Mobility Center Learning Center.

Banking on Green A Look at How Green Infrastructure Can Save Municipalities Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-wide.

The Banking on Green report focuses on the economic impacts caused by polluted urban runoff, also known as “stormwater,” and the co-benefits of energy reduction, flood mitigation, and improved public health outcomes. The report provides case studies and examples which highlight instances of how green infrastructure can provide cost-effective adaptation solutions. Green Infrastructure (GI) can help increase energy efficiency with green roofs and reduce heating and cooling costs. Additionally, GI practices that capture, infiltrate, and reuse rainwater can reduce the energy needed to pump and treat drinking water and wastewater.

Acting on Climate Change: Solutions from Canadian Scholars

The paper on Acting on Climate Change: Solutions by Canadian Scholars presents ten key policy orientations, which could be adopted to kick-start Canada’s transition toward a low-carbon society. The paper received input from 70 Canadian scholars from every province. It was collectively written by 31 Sustainable Canada Dialogues7 (SCD) scholars and reflects expert feedback from 11 SCD reviewers, who were not part of the core writing team, and from 10 external reviewers. The paper focusses on viable, large impact interventions for consideration by Canadian citizens and policy makers.