Local Climate Action in the Time of COVID

City-Builders Series

June 4, 2020

CEA is the only non-profit in BC focused exclusively on supporting local governments and indigenous communities on CLIMATE and ENERGY activities.Our expertise is helping communities with:

About Us

Research & Planning

Coaching & Education

Turnkey Implementation

TRANSPORTATION BUILDINGS WASTE

CEA has expertise in:

CEA Members are recognized as leaders in driving climate action in BC and are among the province’s most driven advocates for inspiring climate solutions.

Public Sector• BC Hydro• BC Transit• University of British

Columbia• Federation of Canadian

Municipalities

Private Sector• Fortis BC• Prism• SES Consulting

Associations & Foundations• Union of BC Municipalities• Urban Development

Institute• Real Estate Foundation of

BC• Planning Institute of BC• Clean Energy BC

Our Members

This Moment in Time

LOSS

RESPONSIBILITY

OPPORTUNITY

Understanding the Losses

Understanding the Losses

Responding to the Other Crisis

2030

2050

Responding to both Crises

The challenge and opportunity of here and now:

• Boost local job creation and stimulate the economy, while….

• Maintain physical distancing and follow changing public health orders,

• Incorporate equity and justice so everyone is included in the solutions

• … and keep momentum going on local climate action (mitigation and adaptation)

Multi-Layered Response

Climate Caucus

2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian CitiesCatalyst Business Coalition

Pembina InstituteGreen Stimulus

Recommendations Green Technology Education Centre (GTEC) Rebuilding Report

Common Vision, Common ActionLocal Measures for Caring, Low-

Carbon Communities

Corporate Knights Green Recovery

Doughnut EconomicsClean Air Partnership

Just Transition for All

Green New Deal

Smart Prosperity Institute

David Suzuki Foundation

Task Force for a Resilient Recovery

Build Back Better

Council of Canadians

Sustainable Development

Goals

QUEST Canada

The Goals for Action-Setting

• Job Creation: Immediate job creation potential for workers in greatest impacted sectors (service, retail, food and hospitality)

• Cost Savings: Energy cost savings including reduced electricity and gas bills and less reliance on mobility fuels.

• GHG Reductions: Long-term GHG reductions and/or foundational action for future deep reductions

• Health: Contributions to improved public health due to air quality benefits, reduced isolation, and others.

• Social Equity: Support for vulnerable populations and increased affordability.

• Resilience: Climate adaptation benefits and other resilience goals.

Four Phases

NO

WWe have the opportunity to choose a stimulus strategy that builds in economic, health and climate benefits.

Match stimulus plans with the real need

Local and regional approaches

Provincial and Federal Financial Support

SH

OR

T T

ER

MPeople who have lost jobs need new jobs.

Road Space Reallocation

• Support re-opening of restaurants with re-allocation of road space from cars to dining areas

• Close streets to cars to allow people to walk, cycle and roll while maintaining distance

• Prioritize routes for transit

Supports for Remote Working

SH

OR

T T

ER

MPeople who have lost jobs need new jobs.

Adaptation and Natural Assets

• FireSmart treatments in and around communities to reduce risk and get folks working with minimal training

• Restore and manage natural assets and green infrastructure

Local Food Production

• Provide new opportunities for local farming and support existing farms

Resource Recovery

• Organics diversion programs, outreach, repair/reuse cafes

SH

OR

T T

ER

MPeople who have lost jobs need new jobs.

Building Retrofits

• Simple retrofit programs for weatherization and attic/basement insulation

Local Tourism

• Local tourism development including electric vehicle tourism promotion

Infrastructure Planning

• Identify shovel-worthy projects for potential Fed/Provfunding programs (e.g. EV charging, renewable energy, resource recovery)

MID

TE

RM

Weathering the second wave.

Agile Management

• Job creation strategies will need to be dynamic, agile and rapidly responsive to changing conditions

LON

G T

ER

MFuture-building towards ramped up climate action

Infrastructure

• Leverage Provincial and Federal funding to invest in public infrastructure tied to climate mitigation and adaptation goals

Expanded Retrofits

• Retrofit programs to drive deep energy retrofits and decarbonisation across all sectors, especially affordable and social housing

New Construction

• Fast track construction of new affordable housing units, with possible focus on wood-frame building

LON

G T

ER

MFuture building with infrastructure and ramped up climate action

Accelerate Climate Action

• Keep momentum going, implement the Big Moves for high impact local climate action

Thank you

www.communityenergy.bc.ca

Maya Chorobik mchorobik@communityenergy.bc.ca

20