Life in metropolitan areas: Dependence on cars in urban neighborhoods

This article by Statistics Canada reviews travel demand and behaviours in various types of communities including urban, suburban and small communities. The article finds that neighbourhoods composed primarily of typically suburban dwellings and located far from the city centre were characterized by an appreciably higher level of automobile dependence.

Summary Report on Local Government Climate Actions 2018

This report illustrates the continued progress by local governments to reduce carbon emissions through highlighting examples of the achievements and experiences of small, medium, and large communities in 2018. It includes:

  • Update on local government progress towards corporate carbon neutrality
  • Highlights of climate mitigation and adaptation actions taken by small, medium, and large communities across BC
  • Hyperlinked list of funding sources and programs used by local governments in support of climate action
Cover of CEEP guide

Community Energy & Emissions Planning: A Guide For BC Local Governments

This guide describes the purpose and content of a community energy and emissions plan, its benefits, and how to go about creating one. The guide provides practical tips, examples from BC communities, and links to more detailed information. It is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather to provide sufficient information for local government staff and elected officials to understand the key components of a successful plan and point to further resources.

Two staff members working with computers

Community Energy and Emissions Modelling

Community energy and emissions modelling (CEEM) is a tool that allows local governments to assess the impact of projected land use changes on future energy use and GHG emissions through different transportation patterns and the built environment.

Map of CEEM analysis for City of North Vancouver
Map of CEEM analysis for City of North Vancouver

CEEM enables local governments to understand the emissions and energy implications of future development scenarios in their communities. It may be used in the development of local government GHG targets, policies, and actions in official community plans (OCPs), regional growth strategies (RGS), community energy and emissions plans (CEEPs), climate action plans, and integrated community sustainability plans (ICSPs).

Local government staff, namely sustainability and land use planners are the key drivers in CEEM efforts. With practitioner support from the private sector, not-for-profits, academia and other levels of government, planners use CEEM to explore the emissions and energy implications of future land use development, and to actively engage their fellow financial and engineering colleagues, gaining insights and priorities from their community constituents and direction from their elected officials.

Case Studies

Qualicum Beach Fire Hall (image courtesy of Town of Qualicum Beach)

BC Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports

Archived copies of British Columbia’s annual provincial inventories and associated key data tables for greenhouse gas sinks and sources are organized by year.

Prior to the 2014 provincial inventory, tables were published every year, and a report that covered the inventory data and methodology was released every two years. From 2014 onward, the tables and the document on the methodology are published annually.

Archived Provincial Inventory Reports are available here.