HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-18-024 - Long Term Community GHG Reduction TargetREPORT TO: Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 9, 2018
SUBMITTED BY: Justin Readman, Interim Executive Director - Infrastructure
Services, 519-741-2200 ext. 7646
PREPARED BY: Justin Readman, Interim Executive Director - Infrastructure
Services, 519-741-2200 ext. 7646
Brandon Sloan, Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning,
519-741-2200 ext. 7648
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATEOF REPORT: March 26, 2018
REPORT NO.: INS-18-024
SUBJECT:Long Term Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target
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RECOMMENDATION:
That Council endorse a community greenhouse gas emission reduction target of
80% below 2010 levels by 2050.
BACKGROUND:
ClimateActionWR is a collaborative effort led by Sustainable Waterloo Region and
REEP Green Solutions. The three cities (Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo) along
with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo jointly fund ClimateActionWR to develop the
Climate Action Plan for Waterloo Region as part of the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program.
In 2013, the City Councils of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, as well as Regional
Council, unanimously passed recommendations to endorse the Climate Action Plan and
commit to a community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction target of 6% below 2010
levels by 2020.
On June 5, 2017 Kitchener Council received an update from ClimateActionWR titled
Our Progress, Our Path, which showed that overall greenhouse gas emissions
decreased in Waterloo Region by approximately 5% between 2010 and 2015. At this
meeting Council also approved the recommendation for Kitchener to continue to
participate as a collaborative partner in the upcoming engagement process to establish
a long-term community greenhouse gas reduction target beyond 2020. This report
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outlines the findings of the community consultation and recommends a long-term
community GHG emission reduction target.
REPORT:
Community consultation as well as scientific evidence suggests that a community
greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 80% below 2010 levels by 2050 is
appropriate for the Waterloo Region. The City of Kitchener along with the cities of
Cambridge and Waterloo, and the Region of Waterloo are collectively seeking council
endorsement of this recommendation during April and May of 2018. This target aligns
with the provincial government’s emissions reduction target of 80% below baseline
levels by 2050. Additionally, the federal government has recently consulted on the
possibility of a similar target.
Alignment with provincial and federal targets will be important moving forward. There
have already been federal and provincial funding competitions that reward or require
meeting or exceeding provincial emissions reduction targets for 2050, such as the
Municipal GHG challenge fund. For municipalities to remain competitive in future
funding competitions, an ambitious target that matches senior-level targets is required.
It is also important to consider Waterloo Region’s target in the context of other
communities in Southern Ontario. Communities such as London, Durham, Peel,
Hamilton, and Toronto have set 2050 targets, and all of them have chosen 80% as their
reduction target (Table 1).
Ontario Communities with 2050 Targets (Table 1)
Municipality ProvinceReduction Target
Durham Region ON 80% by 2050
HamiltonON 80% by 2050
LondonON 80% by 2050
Peel Region ON 80% by 2050
TorontoON 80% by 2050
The consistent alignment around this target is also backed by scientific evidence. The
United Nations Environment Programme has found that global emissions must be net-
zero by 2060-2080 to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees
Celsius. By setting the recommended 2050 target, the Waterloo Region will support
emissions reductions that align with the global temperature threshold.
It is important to note that an absolute target has been selected for each of the
jurisdictions listed above, including Kitchener. This means that as the communities’
population and economic activity grows the total emissions will lower.
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At first glance an absolute GHG reduction of 80% below 2010 levels by 2050 seems like
a significant challenge; however, local emissions are expected to decline substantially
on their own over the next several decades. This is due to changes that will happen at
other levels, including:
auto manufacturers increasing production of electric and hydrogen vehicles;
carbon pricing in developed countries that will favour renewable energy;
significant decreases in the cost of related energy technologies, like
stationary batteries that can store energy from solar panels; and
changes to the building code in Ontario and other provinces and US states,
which are expected to require that all new buildings be net-zero by about
2030.
It is expected that a majority of that 80% reduction will result from these kinds of macro-
trends and external changes.
From an economic standpoint the global clean tech sector is expected to triple in value
between 2014 and 2020, reaching $3 trillion. Globally, renewable energy has attracted
more investment than oil, gas and coal combined for five years in a row, and oil and gas
companies are now investing in renewable energy to remain competitive. Yet Canada’s
proportion of global clean tech sector has been shrinking. For Waterloo Region to
prepare for this new decarbonizing global economy, it must get out ahead of these
economic trends. Showing leadership with an ambitious long-term emissions reduction
target will better position the local economy and community to benefit from a low-carbon
future.
Achieving an ambitious target will bring many additional benefits to the community.
Policies and investments that support additional emissions reductions, in areas like local
energy investment, transportation, and land use planning go well beyond the fight
against climate change. Investment in local energy brings economic benefits and adds
resiliency to our energy system. Reduced emissions improves air quality and health
outcomes. Building more liveable, walkable communities improves quality of life for local
citizens, and makes the community a more attractive location for businesses and the
workers they need. The community will demonstrate leadership by pursuing an
ambitious target and help businesses and people see Waterloo Region as a place that’s
ready for the future. At the same time, the region would be doing its part locally to solve
the global problem of climate change.
Following council endorsement of the target ClimateActionWR and local municipalities
will be following a backcasting approach to meet the target.This approach begins with
identifying a goal and is followed by a series of shorter-term plans that work toward
achieving that goal, similar to the Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP) process.
Next steps will include a process to design the next Climate Action Plan. This will build
on the work included within the Community Energy Investment Strategy, which identifies
the impact of a number of energy and emission actions to the year 2041. The process
will also further engage local stakeholders to achieve community ownership of the plan
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and its implementation. Staff will report back to council on the progress as collaborative
work between the partners continues.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city’s strategic
vision through the delivery of core service and is related to Strategic Priority #4 –
Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo
provide equal contributions toward ClimateActionWR’s annual budget of approximately
$100,000. This funding and support has been secured until July 2021 through
collaborative agreements between the municipalities and ClimateActionWR to provide
stability for the implementation of the Community Climate Action Plan.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.
CONSULT – Nationally, a recent representative Abacus survey found the vast majority
of voters believe action must be taken on climate change. Locally, statistically
representative polling of Waterloo Region residents conducted in 2017 found that 89%
of people said climate change was “a significant issue.” ClimateActionWR’s public
consultations in 2017 and early 2018 showed strong support for an ambitious long-term
target.
Between July and November 2017, ClimateActionWR heard from more than 1800
people across Waterloo Region. When asked, 85% of people chose a 2050 target of
50% or more, and a majority of 53% chose a target of 70% or more. People in Waterloo
Region want to take action on climate change.
ClimateActionWR attended Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee on
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January 9, 2018, Kitchener Environmental Committee on January 18, 2018 and
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Kitchener Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee on February 1, 2018.
Each committee was supportive of setting an aggressive target. The Environmental
Committee also passed the following recommendation:
That the community greenhouse gas emission reduction target be set no
less than 80% below 2010 levels by 2050.
COLLABORATE – ClimateActionWR facilitates three volunteer committees made up of
local residents and representatives of partner organizations. These committees meet
monthly to support community action within the focus areas of: transportation,
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workplaces and homes. The development of a community GHG reduction target was
developed through a collaborative effort.
PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER:
CSD-13-108 (October 30, 2013) – Community Climate Action Plan and Corporate
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiative
CSD-17-046 (May 29, 2017) - Community Climate Action Plan Progress Report
CSD-18-004 (February 5, 2018) - Community Energy Investment Strategy for Waterloo
Region
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, Interim Executive Director – Infrastructure
Services
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