Topic: climate solutions

Okanagan Climate Indicators Dashboard

The Okanagan Basin Water Board has launched the “Okanagan Climate Indicators Dashboard,” a tool to track climate changes in the valley over the past 100 years. This dashboard aims to inform policymakers and residents about temperature, precipitation, streamflow, and lake inflow changes, encouraging steps towards a more climate-resilient region.

Key points highlighted include:

  • A consistent shift to a warmer and drier climate over the last 30 years.
  • The importance of understanding these changes for water management, agriculture, and ecosystem needs.
  • The dashboard provides valuable data to help farmers, local governments, and residents adapt to climate changes.
  • The tool also offers resources for residents, educators, and local governments to prepare for the changing climate.

The State of Climate Action in Canadian Municipalities

A report and database from the Municipal Net-Zero Action Research Partnership (N-ZAP)

Municipalities in Canada are essential contributors to the nation’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the objectives set at local, provincial, and national levels. Their role is crucial in the worldwide effort to cap the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C, a goal established by the 2015 Paris Agreement. The proactive participation of these municipalities in the design, execution, and tracking of climate-related measures is not only vital for cutting down local emissions but also for promoting a future that is both sustainable and low in carbon emissions.

The recent database and study released by the Municipal Net-Zero Action Research Partnership (N-ZAP) draw on survey responses from 256 Canadian municipalities spanning all 10 provinces, which together account for roughly 69.5 percent of the nation’s populace. These municipalities have provided key data concerning their strategies and actions for climate change, including greenhouse gas inventories, policy measures, and initiatives for engaging stakeholders.

The survey results reveal that municipal governments are actively taking significant steps to combat climate change. However, the report also points out that there is room for improvement. Enhancing the speed of interventions, setting more ambitious goals, and improving the effectiveness of local actions are necessary to bolster the nationwide efforts to address climate change.

Partners for Climate Protection Program

The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program is a network of Canadian municipalities that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and acting on climate change. Delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the PCP program provides tools and resources to support municipalities in achieving their emissions reduction targets.

This insights report details real examples of how Canadian municipalities are leading the charge on climate action. Read on the discover how the PCP program is supporting innovative climate action initiatives in municipalities of all sizes.

National State of Professional Workforce Knowledge and Skills to Action Climate Change Adaptation Survey (2023) Final Report

Earnscliffe Strategy Group conducted research for Natural Resources Canada to assess the preparedness of professionals in fields like engineering, planning, accounting, and landscape architecture to integrate climate change considerations into their work.

The National Adaptation Strategy emphasizes the importance of a skilled workforce in building climate-resilient communities and economies. The research aimed to identify gaps in knowledge and skills among these professionals, highlight training needs, and inform strategies for developing a skilled workforce.

The findings will help design climate change adaptation programs, understand the current labor market context, and target resources to create a diverse and inclusive workforce capable of addressing climate change across various sectors, including natural resources.

Healthy Built Environment Linkages Toolkit

This Toolkit is intended to support the inclusion of health considerations within community planning and design. It is designed as a quick reference to the body of research evidence which describes how our built environment can influence population health. The concept of a “healthy built environment” is considered through a holistic perspective including five core features:

  1. Neighbourhood Design
  2.  Transportation Networks
  3.  Natural Environments
  4.  Food Systems
  5.  Housing

This Toolkit is written for health professionals to assist them in articulating well informed and credible responses within local government planning processes and decision making. However, it can readily be used by other stakeholders

ClimateReadyBC

ClimateReadyBC is an online platform to help the public and communities:

  • Understand disaster and climate risks
  • Find funding and supports to make communities more resilient

The platform is a disaster and climate risk reduction tool for public and community use.

It’s also a hub for future collaboration and growth. ClimateReadyBC will evolve through engagement with First Nations, local governments, and other partners.

Deeper collaboration and open access to risk data will prepare them to respond to disasters and climate-related events.

The goal of ClimateReadyBC is to build a service that meets the needs of communities across British Columbia.

The Path to “Net-Zero Energy” Buildings in BC

This paper looks specifically at the necessary components of a roadmap to make new complex buildings net-zero ready. It describes the environmental and economic case for a deep efficiency pathway, reviews some of the targets and policies adopted in leading jurisdictions, and then articulates ten key policies to get to “net-zero ready”.

Focusing on the uptake of energy efficiency technologies in new buildings, this paper does not explicitly address the role of on-site renewable energy, the unique challenges related to the low-rise residential sector, nor the goal of reducing energy in the existing building stock—though some of the policies discussed in this paper can also support these other aspects of a broader building sector energy and emissions strategy.

Sustainable Urban Landscapes: Site Design Manual for BC Communities

The Site Design Manual for BC Communities is rooted in several and extensive efforts to develop alternative development and engineering standards for the design of new (and for the retrofit of existing) communities in British Columbia. With the cooperation of citizens, government organizations, and related agencies, these efforts have been motivated by a shared belief that integrated processes and principles are crucial ingredients in the development of more sustainable communities and urban regions.

Sustainable Neighbourhood Development

This guide provides top-line, how-to information about the planning and development of sustainable neighbourhoods, offering practical solutions to common challenges. It answers
important questions about sustainable neighbourhood development:

  1. What is a sustainable neighbourhood, and how can I make the case for pursuing this kind of development?
  2. What are the major challenges, and how can they be overcome?
  3. Where else in Canada has this been done successfully, and what factors led to that success?
  4. Where can I go for more in-depth information?

Promoting Cycling for Everyone as a Daily Transport Mode

PRESTO was a project of the EU’s Intelligent Energy Europe Programme funded through the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) to promote cycling for everyone as a daily transport mode. PRESTO
activities ran from May 2009 to January 2012 and focused on the three pillars:

  1. Improved infrastructure planning
  2. Targeted promotion to encourage the use of bicycles
  3. Pedelecs