HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-17-003 - Corporate Climate Action Plan
REPORT TO: Environmental Committee
DATE OF MEETING: January 19, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Laurie Majcher, Manager – Strategy & Business Planning, 519-741-2200
ext. 7817
PREPARED BY: Laurie Majcher, Manager – Strategy & Business Planning, 519-741-2200
ext. 7817
WARD (S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: January 4, 2017
REPORT NO.: CAO-17-003
SUBJECT:Corporate Climate Action Plan Phase 1 Report to Council
__________________________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
For Discussion
BACKGROUND:
This is the first of a series of three reports that will be presented to Council for approval leading
up to the presentation of a comprehensive Corporate Climate Action Plan for the City of
Kitchener early next year. Each report represents the completion of one or more major
milestones in the planning process and will be submitted to the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities for recognition under the Partners for Climate Protection Program.
The second report on the Corporate Climate Action Plan, expected to be presented to Council
in September 2017, will include the high level strategies for the proposed Corporate Energy
Management Plan and the results of the corporate climate change vulnerability and risk
assessments. This report, when approved by Council, will provide clear direction for the
priorities to be included in the Corporate Climate Action Plan and will result in the completion
of Milestone #2 of the ICLEI Adaptation Methodology.
The final report to Council, expected to be completed by March 2018, will include the proposed
Corporate Climate Action Plan. The proposed plan will include: a list of priority mitigation and
adaptation actions; a detailed implementation plan; and, a process for monitoring and reporting
on the implementation status of the Action Plan and updating the plan regularly.
Although this project is specific to the city’s corporate operations, Kitchener is proud to be a
part of the ClimateActionWR collaboration that has championed the development of Waterloo
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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Region's first-ever community action plan on climate change. The City of Kitchener endorsed
the plan in 2013 and made a commitment to a community greenhouse gas reduction target of
6 per cent below 2010 levels by 2020.
The City of Kitchener is also participating in the development of a community climate
adaptation plan for the Region of Waterloo, collaborating with multiple stakeholders to develop
a comprehensive plan that addresses impacts across all sectors.
REPORT:
Partners for Climate Protection
Launched in 1994, the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program is now a network of
more than 280 local governments that are committed to acting on climate change. The PCP
program is a partnership between the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI
– Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI). PCP is the Canadian component of ICLEI’s
Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) network, which involves more than 1,000 communities
worldwide.
In 1997, the City of Kitchener became a member of the PCP Program. Kitchener has
implemented many initiatives since the 1990s - both large and small – to achieve reductions in
the production of greenhouse gases (GHG). Examples include: solar roof at the Kitchener
Operations Facility; biodiesel for the fleet; lighting retrofits; LEED certified building design;
waste diversion programs.
In 2013, the City of Kitchener was recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for
completing Milestone #1 of the PCP Program with the submission of the corporate GHG
Inventory for 2010. The next milestone for the City of Kitchener is to set a 10 year Corporate
GHG emissions reduction target.
Greenhouse gas reduction targets form the basis of a municipality’s action on climate change
by setting a strategic direction and providing a starting point from which to track progress. In
many cases, municipalities will set multiple targets with increasing ambition over time. In 1989,
Toronto became the first municipality in the world to set a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
target. Since then over 100 Canadian municipalities, accounting for more than half the
country’s population, have reached Milestone 2 of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP)
program by adopting a GHG reduction target. Many others have set targets outside the PCP
program.
Changing Climate Changing Communities
Even after introducing significant measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, some
additional degree of climate change is unavoidable and will have significant economic, social
and environmental impacts on Canadian communities. To reduce the negative impacts of this
change and to take advantage of new opportunities presented, Canadians will need to adapt.
Investments in community infrastructure, emergency planning and resource management
(urban forests, source water) are all based on expected variations in weather conditions, in
response to climate data collected over time.
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A changing climate means that expected patterns of variability in the weather-temperature,
precipitation, extreme storms and other events-no longer apply. Under such conditions,
infrastructure fails to performs as it should; new forest pests can migrate and decimate local
urban forests; frequent heat waves put vulnerable populations at risk-and the list goes on.
Local governments are left to deal with the social, environmental and economic consequences
of these changes to their communities, often at high cost.
ICLEI’s methodology – changing climate, changing communities - provides a straightforward
approach to adaptation planning using a five-milestone framework similar to the PCP program.
Each milestone represents a fundamental step in the adaptation planning process, starting
with the initiation of adaptation efforts and culminating with a monitoring and review process
that analyzes the successes and reviews the challenges of the adaptation plan and its
implementation.
The City of Kitchener Climate Action Plan will integrate the ICLEI adaptation methodology with
the PCP framework to develop an action plan that includes both strategies to reduce the
carbon footprint of city operations and address the risks associated with the impacts of climate
change.
Report Recommendations
The following Council resolution is recommended:
WHEREAS, scientific consensus has developed that carbon dioxide (CO2) and other
greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere have a profound effect on the Earth’s climate;
and
WHEREAS, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) indicate that municipalities
directly and indirectly affect 44% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions and therefore
have an important role to play in mitigating this impact on the climate; and
WHEREAS, local government actions taken to prepare for climate change impacts provide
multiple local benefits by building a more resilient economy, and by helping to reduce the
physical impacts and costs to people, property and resources associated with a changing
climate.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener adopt an 8% corporate GHG
reduction target from 2016 emissions levels by 2027, and staff be directed to submit it for
consideration to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as fulfillment of corporate milestone
#2 of the Partners for Climate Protection Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener make a commitment to climate
change adaptation planning through the five-milestone framework presented in ICLEI’s
Changing Climate, Changing Communities methodology; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener establish the Corporate Climate Action
Plan Steering Committee to act as an advisory body to the Corporate Leadership Team and
Council recommending both mitigation and adaptation measures for the corporation that are
practical, affordable and appropriate.
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CORPORATE CLIMATE
ACTION PLAN
EMISSIONS TARGETS AND
Phase 1
ADAPTATION COMMITMENT
DRAFT January 5, 2017
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0±¤¥ ¢¤
The City of Kitchener recognizes climate the completion of Milestone #1 of the ICLEI
change as a global issue that can be Adaptation Methodology with the initiation
addressed in part at the local level. The of the adaptation planning process.
City continues it leadership role in
The second report on the Corporate Climate
environmental sustainability practices
Action Plan, expected to be presented to
through the development of a Corporate
Council in September 2017, will include the
Climate Action Plan that integrates both
high level strategies for the proposed
mitigation and adaptation strategies into
Corporate Energy Management Plan and the
day-to-day operations.
results of the corporate climate change
While reducing the release of greenhouse vulnerability and risk assessments. This
gases remains our first priority, it is report, when approved by Council, will
apparent that some degree of climate provide clear direction for the priorities to
change has already begun. In developing be included in the Corporate Climate Action
adaptation strategies, the City of Kitchener Plan and will result in the completion of
is taking steps to reduce negative impacts Milestone #2 of the ICLEI Adaptation
associated with the realities of a changing Methodology.
climate while proceeding with actions
The final report to Council, expected to be
designed to combat further change.
completed by March 2018, will include the
This is the first of a series of three reports proposed Corporate Climate Action Plan.
that will be presented to Council for The proposed plan will include: a list of
approval leading up to the presentation of a priority mitigation and adaptation actions; a
comprehensive Corporate Climate Action detailed implementation plan; and, a
Plan for the City of Kitchener early next process for monitoring and reporting on the
year. Each report represents the implementation status of the Action Plan
completion of one or more major milestones and updating the plan regularly.
in the planning process and will be
submitted to the Federation of Canadian
corporate operations, Kitchener is proud to
Municipalities for recognition under the
be a part of the ClimateActionWR
Partners for Climate Protection Program.
collaboration that has championed the
Over 280 local governments across Canada development of Waterloo Region's first-ever
have committed to achieving the five community action plan on climate change.
milestones for Partners for Climate The City of Kitchener endorsed the plan in
Protection (PCP) and more than 1,100 2013 and made a commitment to a
communities around the world have community greenhouse gas reduction target
international network of 6 per cent below 2010 levels by 2020.
of Cities for Climate Protection.
The City of Kitchener is also participating in
In 2013, the City of Kitchener was the development of a community climate
recognized by the Federation of Canadian adaptation plan for the Region of Waterloo,
Municipalities for completing Milestone #1 collaborating with multiple stakeholders to
of the PCP Program with the submission of develop a comprehensive plan that
the corporate GHG Inventory for 2010. addresses impacts across all sectors.
Once submitted, this report will result in the
- Setting
an emissions reduction target, as well as
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#®³¤³²
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change 1
1.2 The Paris Climate Accord and the Role of Cities 2
1.3 Partners for Climate Protection 2
1.4 Changing Climate Changing Communities 3
2 Corporate Greenhouse Gas Inventory 5
2.1 Background 5
2.2 Inventory Summary 6
2.3 Buildings 7
2.4 Vehicle Fleet 8
2.5 Outdoor Lighting 8
2.6 Wastewater Pumping Stations 9
2.7 Corporate Waste 9
2.8 GHG Emissions by Source 9
3 GHG Emissions Reduction Target 10
3.1 Background 10
3.2 Federal and Provincial GHG Emissions Reduction Targets 10
3.3 Methodology for Setting a GHG Emissions Reduction Target 11
3.4 Setting a Practical, Affordable and Reasonable Target 11
3.5 Recommended GHG Emissions Reduction Target 16
4 Planning to Adapt to Climate Change 17
4.1 Introduction 17
4.2 Corporate Adaptation Planning Scope of Work 18
4.3 Preliminary Climate Change Impacts 18
4.4 Assessing the Adaptive Capacity of the Corporation 20
5 Commitment to Move Forward 21
5.1 Corporate Climate Action Plan Steering Committee 21
5.2 Proposed Council Resolution 22
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1 Introduction
1.1 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change
Much like the glass of a greenhouse, gases in our atmosphere sustain life on Earth by trapping
the sun's heat. These gases allow the sun's rays to pass through and warm the earth, but
prevent this warmth from escaping our atmosphere into space. Without naturally-occurring,
heat-trapping gases - mainly water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane - Earth would be too
cold to sustain life as we know it.
The danger lies in the rapid increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that
intensify this natural greenhouse effect. For thousands of years, the global carbon supply was
essentially stable as natural processes removed as much carbon as they released. Modern
human activity - burning fossil fuels, deforestation, intensive agriculture - has added huge
quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide is the main
contributor to climate change, especially through the burning of fossil fuels. Today's
atmosphere contains 42 per cent more carbon dioxide than it did at the start of the industrial
era. Levels of methane and carbon dioxide are the highest they have been in nearly half a
million years.
Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have
shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and
trees are flowering sooner. Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from
global climate change are now occurring: loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer,
more intense heat waves. Global climate is projected to continue to change over this century
and beyond. The magnitude of climate change beyond the next few decades depends primarily
on the amount of heat-s climate is
to those emissions.
Global Land-Ocean Temperature Index
This graph illustrates the change in global
Institute for Space Studies
surface temperature relative to 1951-1980
average temperatures. The 10 warmest
years in the 134-year record all have
occurred since 2000, with the exception of
1998. The year 2015 ranks as the warmest
on record. (Source: NASA/GISS).
Localized climate projections for Waterloo
Region, prepared by the Interdisciplinary
Centre on Climate Change (IC3) and the University of Waterloo, indicate that we can expect
40% more freezing rain events by 2050; rainfall intensities are projected to increase with large-
magnitude rainfall events expected to occur more frequently, and more wind gust events are
expected as both large-scale frontal storms and local convective windstorms (i.e., damaging
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downdrafts) are projected to occur more frequently. The number of days with extreme heat is
2080.
1.2 The Paris Climate Accord and the Role of Cities
The Paris climate summit, known as COP 21, took place in November-December 2015. The
ey objective was to agree on an international accord to keep global average
temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius. Canada is among the 191 signatories to the
international climate agreement, making a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. The agreement took effect on November 4, 2016.
Cities were a significant actor in this process and now are positioned to play a key role in the
implementation of the Paris outcome. Over 400 mayors were present to call for a more direct
involvement in the negotiations, noting that any agreement resulting from COP21 would need
to be implemented at local level, as well as to stress that cities can play a central and
fundamental role in defining and implementing innovative solutions to reduce the causes and
the effects of climate change both locally and globally.
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energy, and produce 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. And this trend will only
continue: by 2050, 66% of the 10 billion people living on earth will be urban dwellers. While
rapid urbanization brings tremendous opportunities for growth and prosperity, it has also posed
unprecedented challenges to our citiesand the people who live in them. The Global
Commission on the Economy and Climate unequivocally showed that moving on to a low-carbon
development, climate resilient pathway will deliver faster rises in living standards and more
sustainable long-term economic growth than the high-carbon alternative.
Cities can be instrumental in working with their citizens to build a shared vision for their
community that supports the agenda necessary to meet the targets in the Paris agreement,
building a shared understanding that local climate action increases the health, wellbeing and
space, bike lanes and pedestrian zones; greater resilience to withstand extreme weather
events; and energy efficiencies that bring cost savings that can be channeled to meet other
societal needs. At the corporate level, cities have the opportunity to lead by example by
adopting policies and practices that support the sustainability and resiliency of their operations.
1.3 Partners for Climate Protection
Launched in 1994, the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program is now a network of more
than 280 local governments that are committed to acting on climate change. The PCP program
is a partnership between the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI Local
Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI)
Climate Protection (CCP) network, which involves more than 1,000 communities worldwide.
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The PCP program empowers municipalities to integrate climate change issues into their
decisions and to identify strategic opportunities to reduce emissions, improve quality of life and
grow local economies. PCP makes use of a framework consisting of 5 performance-focused
milestones to help members create GHG inventories, set realistic and achievable reduction
targets, develop and deliver local action plans, and measure their progress.
In 1997, the City of Kitchener became a member of the PCP Program. Kitchener has
implemented many initiatives since the 1990s - both large and small to achieve reductions in
the production of greenhouse gases (GHG). Examples include: solar roof at the Kitchener
Operations Facility; biodiesel for the fleet; lighting retrofits; LEED certified building design;
waste diversion programs.
In 2013, the City of Kitchener was recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for
completing Milestone #1 of the PCP Program with the submission of the corporate GHG
Inventory for 2010. The next milestone for the City of Kitchener is to set a 10 year Corporate
GHG emissions reduction target.
Milestone #5
Milestone #1 Milestone #2 Milestone #3 Milestone #4
GHG Set GHG Develop Implement
Measure &
Emissions Reduction Climate Action Climate Action
Monitor
Inventory Target Plan Plan
setting a strategic direction and providing a starting point from which to track progress. In
many cases, municipalities will set multiple targets with increasing ambition over time. In 1989,
Toronto became the first municipality in the world to set a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
population, have reached Milestone 2 of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program by
adopting a GHG reduction target. Many others have set targets outside the PCP program.
The Partners for Climate Protection program reports annually on best practices with leading-
edge examples of climate change action planning development and implementation in
municipalities of all sizes and regions, including options and sources of innovative funding
structures. PCP tools and resources support municipalities throughout the process.
1.4 Changing Climate Changing Communities
Even after introducing significant measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, some
additional degree of climate change is unavoidable and will have significant economic, social
and environmental impacts on Canadian communities. To reduce the negative impacts of this
change and to take advantage of new opportunities presented, Canadians will need to adapt.
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Investments in community infrastructure, emergency planning and resource management
(urban forests, source water) are all based on expected variations in weather conditions, in
response to climate data collected over time. A changing climate means that expected patterns
of variability in the weather-temperature, precipitation, extreme storms and other events-no
longer apply. Under such conditions, infrastructure fails to performs as it should; new forest
pests can migrate and decimate local urban forests; frequent heat waves put vulnerable
populations at risk-and the list goes on. Local governments are left to deal with the social,
environmental and economic consequences of these changes to their communities, often at
high cost.
Timely adaptation can improve community resilience and reduce the severity of these effects
over time. As local governments are responsible for key service areas that will be a affected by
climate change: infrastructure, parks and recreation, health, and transportation, they are on the
front lines of preparing for climate change impacts and have a responsibility to respond through
strategic adaptation planning. Climate change may affect a broad range of municipal assets
and government services, operations and policy areas, and preparing for climate change is a
matter of risk management and good governance. Municipal governments have the
responsibility of ensuring the safety, health and welfare of their communities both now and in
the future.
Climate change awareness is strengthening the discussion into the prospect of legal liability
related to adaptation. It is important for municipalities to review all possible aspects within their
control to eliminate or reduce the adverse effects of climate change which may affects those in
the community. This can be accomplished by reviewing their infrastructure against the
adaptation plans to design for the future while reviewing their current system.
Adaptation is the principal way to deal with the impacts of a changing climate. It involves taking
practical actions to manage risks from climate impacts, protect communities and strengthen the
resilience of the economy.
methodology changing climate, changing communities - provides a straightforward approach
to adaptation planning using a five-milestone framework similar to the PCP program. Each
milestone represents a fundamental step in the adaptation planning process, starting with the
initiation of adaptation efforts and culminating with a monitoring and review process that
analyzes the successes and reviews the challenges of the adaptation plan and its
implementation.
The City of Kitchener Climate Action Plan will integrate the ICLEI adaptation methodology with
the PCP framework to develop an action plan that includes both strategies to reduce the carbon
footprint of city operations and address the risks associated with the impacts of climate change.
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2 Corporate Greenhouse Gas Inventory
2.1 Background
The purpose of the corporate GHG inventory is to establish a baseline that can be used to set a
future GHG emissions reduction target, establish a data collection protocol to be used for
annual corporate GHG inventories going forward, and provide guidance for the development of
a corporate sustainability plan.
In 2013, the City of Kitchener developed a corporate GHG inventory for 2010 as part of its
ongoing commitment to provide leadership and sustainable municipal services for its community
and citizens. The inventory was submitted to FCM to meet the requirements of milestone #1
under the PCP program and set a baseline for setting a target for the future. Using the
information and tools that were available at the time, it was estimated that the corporate
emissions for the City of Kitchener in 2010 was 13,058 tonnes COe.
2
This 2015 Corporate
and GHG emissions have changed in the past five years as context for setting a realistic and
achievable target. A number of changes were made to the model that was used to quantify the
energy consumption data has improved since 2010.
These are improvements that will carry forward in annual updates to the GHG inventory so that
change can be monitored more regularly. Additional improvements will need to be made to
GHG
inventory framework is similar but not directly comparable to the 2010 inventory, the city will
use 2016 data for establishing a baseline for corporate GHG emissions reductions.
The data for the 2015 corporate GHG inventory was obtained from monthly invoices for
electricity and natural gas, and comprehensive fuel consumption records for the corporate fleet
and golf courses. Business travel or personal vehicle usage on city business has not been
included in this inventory, but may be considered as part of the 2016 inventory update. All
records have been reviewed and verified for accuracy. Due to significant changes in the model
used to estimate COe from waste, 2015 waste generated from city operations was estimated at
2
the same level as reported for 2010 for the purposes of this inventory. A more comprehensive
review of data will be required next year and a more accurate estimate will be reported in the
2016 corporate GHG inventory.
Fuel consumption data was converted to energy (gigajoules) consumption and GHG emissions
(COe) using the conversion factors provided by the PCP online inventory tool. Greenhouse gas
2
(GHG) accounting quantifies carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions which are all
recognized as key contributors to climate change. GHG emissions measured in terms of
equivalent tonnes of CO are one of the most highly accepted and widely used environmental
2
impact measurements.
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Energy generated from the solar roof on the Kitchener Operations Facility, and any additional
solar arrays that the city may install, are important contributions to the provincial GHG
reduction targets by introducing renewable energy into the grid. THE PCP program does not
recognize the generation of renewable energy as an offset to corporate emissions in our GHG
Inventory if the energy is not directly used by city operations. However, the City should
continue to take advantage of opportunities to generate renewable energy as part of our
commitment to our community and provincial targets.
2.2 Inventory Summary
In 2015, the City of Kitchener spent approximately $7,860,000 on electricity, natural gas,
propane, gasoline and diesel/biodiesel for the operation of city facilities and the delivery of
services to the community. City of Kitchener buildings and operations consumed 300,666 GJ of
energy, and produced 13,027 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (COe) in 2015.
2
accounting for 64.9% of total corporate energy consumption in 2015 and more than half of all
GHG emissions. While fleet energy consumption represents 18.9% of total emissions, only 5%
higher than for outdoor lighting, it accounts for more than 30% of the total corporate GHG
emissions because COe emissions from the burning of gasoline and diesel fuel is approximately
2
4x higher than for electricity.
The solid waste sector is the only sector in the inventory in which emissions are not calculated
based on burning fuel directly or indirectly in the generation of electricity. The Corporate Waste
sector only includes emissions associated with the decomposition of solid waste.
Table 2.1 Energy Consumption & GHG Emissions by Sector for 2015
Total Total
Energy Emissions
Sector % Total % Total
(GJ) Energy (t COe) Emissions
2
Buildings 195,248 64.9% 7,110 54.6%
Fleet 56,807 18.9% 4013 30.8%
Outdoor Lighting 42,202 14.1% 938 7.2%
Pumping Stations 6,409 2.1% 142 1.1%
*Waste --- --- 824 6.3%
TOTAL 300,666 100% 13,027 100%
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2.3 Buildings
City buildings account for more than half of all corporate GHG emissions. Buildings included in
the GHG Inventory include all city owned and operated buildings where the city has a
reasonable level of control or influence over the energy consumption in the building. The
inventory includes more than 50 city facilities, including: administrative offices, community
centres, parking garages, swimming pools, arenas, fire halls, golf courses, cemeteries, the
Kitchener Market and Kiwanis Park, as well as a variety of other small park buildings and
storage sheds.
Table 2.2 Top 15 City Buildings for GHG Emissions
Energy Emissions Carbon % Total
Intensity Buildings
Building (GJ) (t COe)
2
2
Emissions
(COe/m)
2
31,236 1,210 0.041 17.0%
1)Kitchener Operations Facility
33,420 1161 0.038 16.3%
2)The Auditorium
27,257 912 0.024 12.8%
3)City Hall Complex
12,250 419 0.066 5.9%
4)Sportsworld Arena
8,877 385 0.165 5.4%
5)Forest Heights Pool & Library
12,476 381 0.038 5.4%
6)Activa Sportsplex
8,743 371 0.091 5.2%
7)Breithaupt Pool & CC
8,344 302 0.021 4.3%
8)The Kitchener Market
6,919 294 0.129 4.1%
9)Lyll Hallman Pool
4,025 151 0.038 2.1%
10)Fire Headquarters
4,254 134 0.045 1.9%
11)Lions Arena
3,240 112 0.042 1.6%
12)Grand River Arena
2,605 100 0.030 1.4%
13)Rockway Golf Course & Club
House
2,690 86 0.033 1.2%
14)Don Mclaren Arena
2,176 86 0.033 1.2%
15)Fire Hall #5 & Forest Heights
CC
TOTAL 168,512 6,104 n/a 85.8%
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The four city buildings with the highest GHG emissions - the Kitchener Operation Facility, the
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex, City Hall Complex and Sportsworld Arena - account
for more than 50% of all GHG emissions from city buildings. The top 15 city buildings (listed
above) account for more than 85% of all emissions from city buildings and almost half of the
total corporate GHG emissions. Efforts to improve building energy efficiency would have the
greatest potential for reductions in these city facilities.
2.4 Vehicle Fleet
The fleet sector includes direct emissions from vehicles used by employees of the municipality
in the exercise of their duties. This includes fire trucks, golf course mowers, snowplows,
maintenance vehicles, and heavy equipment used for operations. In total 597 vehicles were
included in the inventory. More than half of the GHG emissions from fleet come from
173 heavy duty vehicles, plow trucks and fire truck. Approximately 30% of the energy used by
the fleet comes from biodiesel, which produces 7.5% less carbon emissions than regular diesel.
Table 2.3 GHG Emissions from the Corporate Fleet
Total Energy Emissions Carbon % Fleet
Intensity Emissions
Vehicle Type (GJ) (t COe)
2
12,846 862 18.0 21.5%
Heavy Duty Plows
12,985 843 8.4 21.0%
Heavy Duty Vehicles
10,927 685 4.4 17.1%
Light Duty Vehicles
6,498 641 8.9 16.0%
Off Road Vehicles
5,809 411 9.9 10.2%
Fire Trucks
3,913 307 10.2 7.7%
Sweepers & Sidewalk
Vehicles
1,782 126 2.1 3.1%
Mower Equipment
2,046 138 4.6 3.4%
Other
TOTAL 56,807 4,013 n/a 100%
2.5 Outdoor Lighting
The lighting sector includes outdoor lighting sources such as overhead streetlights and traffic
signals on or along City roads, lighting in municipal surface parking lots, walkway lighting and
lighting in parks and for winter rinks. It should be noted that the City of Kitchener pays for 14
traffic signals but has no control over the design or operation of them. Overall, outdoor lighting
consumed 42,202 GJ of energy in 2015 and generated 938 tonnes COe.
2
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2.6 Wastewater Pumping Stations
Wastewater pumping stations include all sewage pumping stations that are managed and/or
operated by the City. Emissions calculated are primarily associated with stationary fuel pumps
and lift stations used to dispose of sewage from the community. Emissions related to
wastewater may be highly variable in local government operations inventories as they may be
influenced by the local topography, which may require the use of pump stations. Overall,
wastewater consumed 6,409 GJ of energy and produced 142 tonnes of COe in 2015.
2
2.7 Corporate Waste
Even though the City does not own or operate a solid waste disposal facility, it must still
account for the solid waste generated as a result of local government operations. In this case,
the Corporate Waste sector must include all employee-generated solid waste, as well as waste
generated at public facilities, such as community centers, parks or recreation buildings. Facilities
that have waste pick-up at the curb have not been included within this inventory as those
emissions would be included within the Community GHG Inventory.
It is estimated that corporate waste generated by the City in 2015 is responsible for 827 tonnes
of COe based on the 2010 waste inventory estimates. This number will be updated when a
2
comprehensive inventory of corporate waste is completed in 2017.
2.8 GHG Emissions by Source
in city
buildings and facilities, generating 39% of total emissions at 5,080 COe tonnes. Electricity
2
was the biggest source of corporate GHG emissions in 2010 and has dropped from 36% to 24%
in 2015. This is primarily due to changes in the composition of electric generation in the
province, and the elimination of the use of coal to generate electricity, not a reduction in
electricity use by the corporation.
Chart 2.1 GHG Emissions by Source for 2015
6%
25%
19%
Electricity
Natural Gas
Gasoline
11%
Diesel/Biodiesel
39%
Propane
Waste
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3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target
3.1 Background
The 2015 population for the City of Kitchener was estimated at 239,900, and is forecast to grow
by 19% within the next 10 years, representing 46,235 new residents. Growth will require the
city to build new facilities in developing areas, increase the size of the corporate fleet and
expand operations to maintain existing services levels for all citizens. Based on the current
carbon footprint of the organization and a business as usual scenario, the city could expect
corporate energy consumption and GHG emissions to increase as much as 15% or more over
the next 10 years, with an estimated annual GHG emissions of 15,000 tonnes COe by 2026.
2
Growth pressures create difficult challenges when trying to achieve an absolute reduction in
GHG emissions. An absolute 10% reduction from 2016 levels can require an overall 20%
reduction in energy intensity across the corporation as the operation expands. Nevertheless,
growth can also provide significant opportunities for positive change.
As new investments are made in the community they can be designed to take advantage of
best practices in energy efficiency and sustainable design. All new buildings will be significantly
more energy efficient than older buildings due to changes in the building code and the
implementation of LEED design features. Fleet vehicles will become more fuel efficient and
fuels will become cleaner over time.
The City of Kitchener has already made a commitment to the conversion of streetlights to LED,
which is expected to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 500 tonnes COe when fully
2
implemented. All of these changes, and many more that are expected to be realized over the
emissions in the future.
3.2 Federal and Provincial GHG Emissions Reduction Targets
In 2013, Canada's GHG emissions were 3.1% lower than 2005 levels while the economy grew
by 12.9% over the same time period. Canada's per capita GHG emissions have fallen to their
lowest levels since tracking began while the economy has continued to grow. Canada is among
the 191 signatories to the international climate agreement, making a commitment to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. The agreement came into
force on November 4, 2016. The national plan to achieve GHG emissions targets is currently
being developed.
provincial strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020,
37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050. The government will report on the plan's
implementation annually and renew the plan every five years.
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3.3 Methodology for Setting a GHG Emissions Reduction Target
For PCP recognition of Milestone 2, there are three formal requirements:
1.The target must clearly state whether it is for community or corporate emissions
2.The target must be an overall GHG reduction target in the form - % reduction from
base year by target year
3.The target must be adopted by council resolution.
Six percent is considered the minimum target for corporate emissions reductions. However, the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities recommends a 20% reduction below baseline year GHG
emissions for municipal operations within 10 years.
A top-down aspirational target for the corporation gives staff time to get mobilized for action
while the plan is being developed. It
commitment to climate change and provides direction for staff in the decisions that they make
every day. It is not expected to be a prediction of what will happen, but a goal for what the
city is committed to making happen. It is meant to challenge the organization to look beyond
the obvious and explore innovative solutions that could deliver breakthrough results.
There is a great deal of uncertainty about the future that can make it difficult to set a target.
Technology continues to improve and innovations are constantly being released in renewable
energy generation and low carbon fuels, energy efficient building and vehicles, and carbon
capture from exhaust. It is expected, but not yet known, how much funding from federal and
provincial climate change programs will be available to cities to take advantage of emission
reduction opportunities when the cost may be prohibitive due to municipal budget constraints.
3.4 Setting a Practical, Affordable and Reasonable Target
The greenhouse gas reduction target forms the basis of a municipality's program objectives and
provides a starting point from which to track progress.
reduce GHG emissions will only be achieved through energy management initiatives that are
practical, affordable, and reasonable within our organizational context. Every city has unique
circumstances that create constraints on how much can be achieved within a ten-year period.
Before a target is developed, it is important to assess the current situation, which will affect the
arget. Understanding the corporate GHG emissions profile
and the state of municipal assets is one of the most important things to understand when
setting corporate targets. In most cases existing assets will produce the bulk of emissions for
many years to come. Consideration must be given to the following factors in setting a target:
1)The Age and Condition of City Assets
It may be possible to dramatically reduce energy consumption when older buildings and
vehicles are replaced with new ones. However the age and condition of the asset determines
when they are replaced, and therefore how quickly efficiency can be improved. It may be
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financially feasible to retrofit older buildings that are not ready to be replaced to increase
efficiency, but a strong business case is required that demonstrates a reasonable pay-back
period on the up-front capital improvements to justify making the necessary changes.
2)Demand for new facilities and the expansion of city services
Expectations for service expansion, increases in service levels for existing services and the
introduction of new services over the next ten years will drive increases in corporate energy
consumption to meet the needs of a growing community. New facilities will increase emissions
unless an existing facility is being closed. To achieve an absolute reduction in emissions from
current levels will require the city to implement actions that more than off-set the impact of
growth related emissions.
3)Budget and resources
Available budget is the single largest factor determining how much corporate emissions can be
reduced. Implementing a corporate plan will involve new capital costs and, depending on its
ambition, potential additional staff resources. Without properly resourcing to the level of the
reduction target, action will be delayed or not implemented and the city will miss its targets.
From a lifecycle perspective, the savings from carbon and energy management can be very
cost-effective in some cases. However, a city that is reluctant to spend money on its assets is
unlikely to achieve an aggressive corporate reduction target. past practice of
attempting to maintain property tax rate increases at or below the rate of inflation will be a
considerable constraint on the potential for capital improvements and operating investments
that reduce corporate GHG emissions. In other words, it is unreasonable to expect that a
the
same time deliver a substantial new program. This is why, in other jurisdictions such as at the
Provincial level, entire new revenue streams such as carbon taxes, have been introduced to
fund climate change mitigation programs. While this is not an option for Kitchener, it
underscores the need to moderate program expectations if they are to be delivered within the
current financial framework.
4)Organizational Change Readiness
Cities that have been successful in making progress on aggressive targets make energy
conservation a priority for Council and the Corporate Leadership Team and the responsibility of
every employee. Energy conservation and sustainability practices need to be embedded in the
culture of the organization to support behaviours that will drive results. Leadership will be
required to encourage the adoption of alternative work procedures and the establishment of
new corporate policies and practices that provide direction for day-to-day decision making. A
comprehensive change management program may be needed to build awareness and
commitment to making the required changes to the way works gets done throughout the
organization.
The following scenarios were considered in the process of selecting of an appropriate corporate
GHG emissions reduction target for the City of Kitchener:
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Table 3.2 GHG Emission Reduction Scenarios
GHG
Examples of
Estimated Financial
Reduction
Impacts
Potential Actions
Target
Energy audits
HVAC equipment upgrades or retrofits
New capital investments which
Routine equipment maintenance
can be funded with short/medium
Lighting retrofits for all city facilities
term payback periodthrough
Moderate
New LEED buildings
reduced operating expenditures
(4-8%)
LED streetlight conversion
Incremental increases in
Electric cars in fleet whencost effective
expenditures on low carbon
2
3000 tCOe
Anti-idling enforcement
options for fleet and waste
annually
Fleet route optimization
diversion processes over time with
By 2027
Right-sizing vehicles
no payback.
Driver training and accountability
Actively leverage infrastructure
Green procurement policy
grants and other funding programs
Recycling programs for all city facilities
to finance efficiency upgrades.
Employee suggestions and problem
Moderate pressure on the tax
solving
rate to fund new costs.
In addition to all of the above:
Building envelope upgrades/retrofitsNewcapital investments with long
term payback period
Challenging
Aggressive HVAC retrofits
(9-15%)
Premium paid for low-carbon
rating
optionswith no pay-back
2
4000 tCOe
Increased operating costs for new
facilities
annually
staff resources to initiate and
Establish an Energy Information System
By 2027
manage new programs
Departmental Energy Management
Seek out/advocate for new funding
Teams
options/revenue streams for low
carboninitiatives
New solar and wind energy projects
Deferral of growth-related
Corporatechange management
projects in the DC Reserve due
program
to higher costs to construct
Convert tolow carbon fuel for fleet
new facilities
(biodiesel, propane, natural gas)
Pressure to issue debt to fund
Recyclingfor all public spaces & events
capital
Curb travel on city business
Increased pressure onthe tax
Invest in tree planting/carbon capture
rateto fund increasingcosts
technologies
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GHG
Examples of
Estimated Financial
Reduction
Impacts
Potential Actions
Target
In addition to all of the above:
New geothermal and heat recovery Significant new capital
technologyinvestments in high risk
Aggressive
investments with no payback
(16% - 30%)
period
2
Aggressive solar and wind power
6000 tCOe
Significant new investments
installations to serve city operations
in staff positions to seek out
annually
and evaluate innovative
By 2027
Experiment with new low emissions
technology
technology before proven
Increased debtoutside of
Premature replacement of vehicles/
the existing debt
facilities/equipment to achieve energy
philosophy
efficiency
Increased property taxes
Invest in heavy duty electric vehicles (if
Increased user fees
available)
The financial impacts of
Reduce the number of city facilities and
this scenario are expected
buildingsthat support city operations
to be unsustainable for the
Reduce energy demand by cutting
organization
service to the public during peak load
times
Replace HVAC systems to switch from
natural gas heating to electricity
Cutnon-legislated mobile services to
the public
Buildings
There is potential to reduce GHG emissions from city buildings through improved energy
management practices, lighting retrofits, upgrades to more energy efficient heating and air
conditioning systems, upgrading windows and insulation in city buildings, district energy
systems, introducing green procurement practices for electronics like computers and copiers,
and implementing design features to take advantage of passive solar heating and lighting in
new buildings. The goal to reduce fuel consumption in buildings must take into account the
impact on the functionality of our facilities, the services provided by them, and the expectations
of city staff and the public in moving forward.
Population growth and demand for new city facilities will be a significant challenge for the City
of Kitchener to achieve an absolute reduction in GHG emissions in the next 10 years.
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Reductions will only be achieved with the leadership of Council, full commitment and
cooperation of all city staff and an investment in capital improvements that take advantage of
energy savings and carbon reduction technologies. A portion of energy savings from efficiency
improvements could potentially be reinvested into new capital improvements to generate an
ongoing stream of efficiency projects for the future. Reductions in buildings emissions beyond
2
500 tCOe , or 7% below 2016 emissions by 2027, would most likely require a significant
investment in capital improvements and operating expenses with little to no potential for
payback within in the next 10 years and potential service reductions to the public.
Vehicle Fleet
It is expected that more fuel efficient options and exhaust filtering systems will be available for
the fleet within the next decade that the City can take advantage of when there is asset
turnover. It is unlikely that electric vehicles will be a viable option for anything but a minimal
portion of
direct control of the city and may result in a net increase in costs for the city to implement.
Increasing the concentration and use of biodiesel has the potential to reduce GHG emissions in
the future, but the premium for biodiesel will require increased expenditures on fuel.
Improvements can be made in the way we use our fleet to reduce fuel consumption, including:
curbing growth, right-sizing vehicles, route optimization and changes in employee driving
behavior, creating both cost savings as well as emissions reductions. This is not to suggest
that the corporate Fleet division and operating areas are not engaged in these improvements
already. Rather, these changes will have to be championed by all city employees that use the
goal to reduce fuel consumption will need to be balanced with the potential impact on staff
produ
2
the public in a growing community. Reductions in fleet emissions beyond 200 tCOe, or 5%
below 2016 emissions by 2027 would require service level reductions and a significant
investment in capital improvements and/or operating expenses with little to no potential for
payback within in the next 10 years.
Outdoor Lighting
The City of Kitchener has already made a commitment to LED conversion for street lighting,
which is expected to make the biggest single contribution to overall corporate emissions
reductions in the short-term. Further marginal reductions in energy consumption for outdoor
lighting may be possible over the next ten years to offset increases due to expected growth, but
will be a minimal contribution to a more aggressive reduction target. Reductions in emissions
2
from outdoor lighting beyond 600 tCOe , or 60% below 2016 emissions by 2027, is highly
unlikely within in the next 10 years.
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Pumping Stations
It is expected that there may be some potential to improve the efficiency of pumping stations
over the next 10 years with improved maintenance and regular equipment tune-ups. Significant
capital investments with little to no payback may be required to introduce more aggressive
reductions in energy for the city. Reductions in emissions from pumping stations beyond 5
2
tCOe , or 3% below 2016 emissions by 2027, is unlikely within in the next 10 years without
significant new capital investments with little to no payback.
Corporate Waste
The city of Kitchener currently has waste diversion programs for 38% of our building space.
Improvements in waste reduction may have the potential to save money, but additional
investments in waste diversion and the cost of implementing/reinforcing behavioural changes to
2
facilities and outdoor spaces. Reductions in emissions from corporate waste beyond 120 tCOe,
or 15% below 2016 emissions by 2027, is unlikely within in the next 10 years.
3.4 Recommended GHG Emissions Reduction Target
Staff are recommending that the City of Kitchener adopt a 8% corporate GHG emissions
reduction target from 2016 levels by 2027.
At this stage in the planning process, it is clear that opportunities exist to reduce energy
consumption and GHG emissions from city operations over the next ten years. Although, a great
deal of uncertainty remains around specific strategies and actions the city should adopt to take
advantage of those opportunities in the most cost effective way and what the results that we
can actually achieve. While an 8% GHG emissions reduction target may appear to be feasible
for the City of Kitchener at this time, it needs to be viewed as a goalpost that gives the
organization something to aim for over the next ten years, not a commitment that we are
expected to achieve at all costs. When compared with the business as usual scenario of a 15%
increase in carbon emissions over the next ten years, an absolute reduction of 8% from 2016
levels represents an overall reduction of 20%, which is a substantial ten-year goal.
The following principles will be used to guide the development of an action plan:
1.New investments in capital projects to achieve GHG emissions will need to achieve a
payback period of 10 years or less;
2.Actions will be targeted at fully leveraging all available funding programs and incentives
from other orders of government as appropriate;
3.Budget decisions to fund both operating and capital investments will be done within the
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4 Planning to Adapt to Climate Change
4.1 Introduction
Today, the effects of climate change are being felt in communities across the country. These
effects are set to become so pervasive that all levels of government and all sections of society
will have a responsibility to become informed and to take appropriate action within their
mandates to prepare for and adapt to them.
ICLEI Canada has developed a milestone based framework to assist local governments in the
creation of adaptation plans to address the relevant climate change impacts associated with
their communities. Each milestone represents a fundamental step in the adaptation planning
process, starting with the initiation of adaptation efforts (by building an adaptation team and
identifying local stakeholders) and culminating with a monitoring and review process that
analyzes the successes and reviews the challenges of the adaptation plan and its
implementation.
The City of Kitchener will be using the ICLEI methodology to guide the development and
implementation of the adaptation components of the Corporate Climate Action Plan. To satisfy
the requirements of Milestone #1 of the framework, the city will: identify a preliminary list of
climate change impacts and existing adaptation actions, identify a champion and build a climate
change adaptation team that includes key stakeholders, and pass a Council resolution
demonstrating a political commitment to adaptation planning.
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4.2 Corporate Adaptation Planning Scope of Work
The scope of the Corporate Climate Action Plan includes assets, infrastructure, programs,
operations and services that are the direct responsibility of the City of Kitchener, and limited to
climate change impacts that will impact the local community that fall outside the scope of this
project, such as but not limited to: the health of individuals and particularly vulnerable
populations, the reliability of electric power distribution during and after major storm events,
and employment income from local agriculture.
The City of Kitchener is participating in the development of a Community Adaptation Plan that is
being coordinated by the Region of Waterloo. The community plan will look at a broad
spectrum of community impacts and will engage a variety of key stakeholders from within the
community to discuss impacts, risks and priorities for action. The City of Kitchener Corporate
Climate Action Plan will be developed in sync with the Region-wide community plan so that
interdependencies and opportunities for integrated solutions can be explored together.
4.3 Preliminary Climate Change Impacts
Localized climate projections for Waterloo Region, prepared by the Interdisciplinary Centre on
Climate Change (IC3) and the University of Waterloo, indicate that we can expect hotter, wetter
and more extreme weather in the years to come. The most significant changes include:
40% more freezing rain events by 2050
rainfall intensities are projected to increase
large-magnitude rainfall events expected to occur more frequently
more wind gust events are expected
the number of days with extreme heat is projected to more than triple to 32days per
year by the and nearly double again by 2080
The following table provides a summary of the possible impacts of these changes, based on a
preliminary assessment of the data. While the city already has a number of programs in place
to manage many of these impacts, a thorough assessment is required to determine the
potential risks due to expected increases in frequency, duration and severity of these changes.
Table 4.1 Preliminary Impact Assessment
Impact Statement City Services Involved
Emergency Preparedness, Rescue and
1.Severe flooding creating a state of emergency due to
Recovery
extreme precipitation events - causing significant
damage to public infrastructure and private
Stormwater Management
property, forcing residents to evacuate their homes
Environmental Services
and businesses to shut down.
Roads & Traffic
Business Continuity
Corporate Risk and Insurance
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Impact Statement City Services Involved
2.Increased surface water flooding from ponding of
Stormwater Management
rainfall in low lying areas or heavy rainfall
Environmental Services
overcoming the capacity of the drainage system.
Roads & Traffic
3.Extensive tree damage, power outages, property
Emergency Management
damage and disruption to transportation networks
Environmental Services
due to more frequent extreme wind storms and
Roads & Traffic
more freezing rain events.
Corporate Risk and Insurance
Fire Department
4.Threats of forest fires and grass fires may increase
Emergency Management
with longer, drier and hotter heat waves.
Environmental Services
5.Increased tree mortality rates and change in the
Asset Management
urban forest composition due to increase in hot
Corporate Risk & Insurance
weather and decreased summer precipitation.
Facilities Management
6.Increased demand on cooling systems in city
Asset Management
buildings which may be used as a refuge by citizens
Community Programs & Services
due to more extreme heat events resulting in higher
energy use, increased costs and potential energy
brown-outs in peak demand periods.
Facilities Management
7.Physical damage to city buildings and facilities as
Asset Management
they become increasingly unsuited to the changing
Corporate Risk & Insurance
climate and more frequent climate hazards, resulting
in costly repairs, loss of functionality and reduced
lifecycle.
Engineering
8. Physical damage to t
Roads & Traffic
main breaks, degradation of road surfaces, as it
Asset Management
becomes increasingly unsuited to the changing climate
and more frequent hazards, resulting in costly repairs,
Risk & Insurance
loss of functionality and reduced lifecycle
Planning and Building
9.Development patterns not well adapted to future
climate within their lifespans (e.g. excess heat gain
and lack of cooling in buildings, buildings built below
adequate flood construction levels)
Community Programs & Services
10.Health and safety risks to city staff that work
Human Resources
outdoors and participants in outdoor city programs
All services with outside workers
and services due to extreme heat.
Environmental Services
11.Damage to parks, trails, and natural areas due to
Asset Management
longer, drier and hotter heat waves and severe
flooding.
Planning
12.
Environmental Services
system due to increased water temperatures, increased
evaporation, more extreme heat waves, and flooding.
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4.4 Assessing the Adaptive Capacity of the Corporation
Having taken a first look at climatic changes and the potential impacts in milestone #1, it will
be important to confirm that the most important impacts have been identified. Next, the team
will imate change and its capacity to
adapt to the climate change impacts. A thorough vulnerability assessment will be completed for
each service area, taking into account the following factors:
Is the service area already able to accommodate existing weather patterns and
changes in climate?
Is the service area already stressed in ways that will limit its ability to accommodate
changes in climate?
Using the results of the vulnerability assessment, along with research on projected climatic
changes, the consequence and likelihood of specific impacts will be estimated. The likelihood
assessment, together with the consequence evaluation, will constitute the risk score for each
impact. The final step in Milestone #2 is to organize the impacts according to the risk score
from extreme to low so that a prioritized list of impacts can be used to identify actions to be
included in the Corporate Climate Action Plan.
The results of the vulnerability and risk assessment will be shared with Council for input before
the action plan is developed.
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5 Commitment to Move Forward
5.1 Corporate Climate Change Action Plan Steering Committee
The City of Kitchener has created team of stakeholders and subject matter experts from across
the organization to provide input, guidance, approval and direction on the Corporate Climate
Action Plan as it is developed over the next 12-15 months. The Corporate Leadership Team will
act as the project champion for the project, and Justin Readman, Executive Director
Infrastructure Services will be the project Sponsor. The individuals that have been chosen for
this team are in a position to provide insights into the appropriateness and feasibility of
potential actions to reduce GHG emissions and address the risks from climate change.
Committee Members
Manager, Strategy & Business Planning Project Lead (Chair)
Senior Environmental Planner
Risk & Claims Analyst
Manager, Stormwater Utility
Manager, Projects & Energy Management
Manager, Emergency Management & Business Continuity
Director, Fleet
Director, Asset Management
Director of Operations Roads & Traffic
Director of Operations -Environmental Services
Responsibilities of the Steering Committee
The primary function of the Corporate Climate Action Steering Committee is to and guide
decision making on project deliverables throughout the planning process to ensure alignment
with existing programs and confirm that new commitments can be supported within the
capacity and capability of the organization. To achieve this objective, the Steering Committee
will:
Share information, and provide direction on the current and planned future actions the
City of Kitchener has already made a commitment to that will reduce corporate GHG
emissions and address the potential risks associated with climate change;
Identify opportunities to take a collaborative approach to corporate climate action
across divisions and departments;
Provide direction and feedback at key project milestones;
Provide direction for consultation with the Community Emergency Program Committee,
Corporate Energy Management Team, Corporate Asset Management Team, Fleet Users
Group, specific directors or managers, staff and other stakeholders as needed;
Make the decision to accept, revise, or reject project deliverables; and
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Communicate the status and progress of the project to other City staff and/or teams
that may be impacted, gathering and communicating feedback to the Project Lead.
As the project lead, the Manager of Strategy & Business Planning is responsible for successfully
completing the project on time within budget and securing acceptance and approval of
deliverables from the Project Sponsor, Environmental Committee, Corporate Leadership Team
and Council. When the Corporate Climate Action Plan is complete the Corporate Climate
Action Plan Steering Committee will be dissolved. The plan will identify who will take
responsibility for the implementation of the action plan and the ongoing monitoring and
management process.
5.2 Proposed Council Resolution
The final requirement for the City of Kitchener
methodology and Milestone #2 of the PCP program is to pass a resolution of Council to
establish the GHG emissions reduction target, establish the Corporate Climate Action Planning
adaption planning. The following Council resolution is recommended:
WHEREAS, scientific consensus has developed that carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse
gases released into the atmosphere have a profound effect on the
WHEREAS, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) indicate that municipalities directly
important role to play in mitigating this impact on the climate; and
WHEREAS, local government actions taken to prepare for climate change impacts provide
multiple local benefits by building a more resilient economy, and by helping to reduce the
physical impacts and costs to people, property and resources associated with a changing
climate.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener adopt an 8% corporate GHG reduction
target from 2016 emissions levels by 2027, and staff be directed to submit it for consideration
to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as fulfillment of corporate milestone #2 of the
Partners for Climate Protection Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener make a commitment to climate change
adaptation planning through the five-
Climate, Changing Communities methodology; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener establish the Corporate Climate Action Plan
Steering Committee to act as an advisory body to the Corporate Leadership Team and Council
recommending both mitigation and adaptation measures for the corporation that are practical,
affordable and appropriate.
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