Peel Climate Change Strategy

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Peel Climate Change Strategy
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) Low Impact
Development (LID) Conference
Bryan Hill, Manager, Planning Policy and
Research Division, Corporate Services, Region of
Peel September 28, 2010
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What is Climate Change?

• Any change in climate over time whether due to
  natural variability or as a result of human
  activity that cause greenhouse gases (GHGs).
• GHGs have increased markedly since 1750 and far
  exceed pre-industrial values.
• Climate change is real.

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Sources of Local GHG Emissions
Passenger Vehicles 20
Freight Diesel 12

• Source Ontario Emission Actual Percentages by
  GGAP Theme, 2008 National GHG Inventory

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Mitigation and Adaptation
Mitigation
Adaptation
Sewer Upgrades Heat Alert System Vector Disease
Control Control of Invasive Species Business
Continuity Planning And others
Reduced Air Travel Capture Landfill Gas Expand
Transit Use Energy Conservation Active
Transportation And others.
Green Roofs Better Insulation Permeable
Pavement Reduce Peak Demand Expand Tree
Canopy And others
Source U of T and OPPI Professional Development
Course Preparing for Climate Change, October
2008.
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How Will our Climate Change?
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Key Findings A Changing Climate

• Increase to annual and seasonal temperatures
• Slight increase in annual and seasonal
  precipitation
• An increase in the number of extreme heat days
• Change to the frequency and intensity of extreme
  weather events

Caledon Hills
Professors Lake, Brampton
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Potentially Affected Sectors in Peel
Built Form
Transportation
Energy
Public Health
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Impacts on Municipalities

• While it is up to each nation, province, region,
  and community to do their part in dealing with
  the effects of climate change, it is the
  communities that are at the front-line of the
  sustainability challenge and where the effects of
  climate change will be hardest felt.
• The community is where the impacts of poor air
  and water quality, climate change and diminishing
  natural resources will be observed. Its where
  people live, work and play.
• Peel Region Official Plan Review Sustainability
  Background Paper, 2008

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The Role of Municipalities

• Municipal governments have direct or indirect
  influence over activities accounting for 44 per
  cent of GHG greenhouse gas emissions in Canada,
  including waste management, transportation, and
  commercial and residential building design.
• There is large, untapped potential to achieve
  low-cost GHG reductions in these areas at the
  municipal level.
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities, 2009

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Peel is Responding

• The six partners are taking climate change
  seriously by developing a Strategy to address two
  major questions
• What can we do on a local level to reduce
  greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to
  global climate change?
• What can we do to prepare for local impacts due
  to a changing climate?

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Peel Climate Change Strategy

• Scope of Work
• Prepare a strategy for the geographic region of
  Peel to mitigate and adapt to climate change
• Assist the partners with focusing their resources
  for climate change work
• Provide future direction for the partners and
• Implementation will be a shared responsibility
  that will be carried out as appropriate by the
  partners.

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The Vision

• Peel is a resilient, sustainable community
• Responsibility to act locally to the global
  challenge of climate change
• Partners are leaders working collaboratively
• Protect and preserve the well being of people,
  communities, robust natural systems and
  infrastructure
• Actions and priorities will allow the partners to
  participate in an emerging green economy

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Draft Goals

1. Responsive planning and leadership
2. Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
   (mitigation)
3. Targeted and proactive adaptation actions
4. Making the shift to a green economy
5. Increasing awareness throughout Peel
6. Ongoing research and adaptive risk management

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Examples of Actions

• Create a common understanding of actual and
  forecasted GHG emissions within Peel by
  developing a series of inventories
• Complete a vulnerability risk assessment of the
  local infrastructure, community and natural
  heritage
• Increase local climate modeling and monitoring
  capabilities

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Actions Related to Sustainable Stormwater
Management

• 1.2 As municipal official plans, by-laws and
  policies (including Water Quality Plans,
  Stormwater Management Plans and Infrastructure
  Maintenance Plans) are updated on a regular
  cycle, ensure that they reflect climate change
  adaptation considerations targeted to reduce
  vulnerabilities to the projected impacts and
  achieve GHG reductions.
• 1.4 Work with other jurisdictions to urge more
  stringent provincial action on the redevelopment
  of Ontarios Building Code.
• 1.5 Address integrated water management issues
  related to climate change through existing
  programs (e.g. Clean Water Act, Water
  Opportunities Act, watershed planning).

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Actions Related to Sustainable Stormwater
Management

• 3.4 Based on results of risk assessment,
  undertake recommended retrofitting of
  infrastructure (stormwater facilities, culverts,
  etc.) and remediation of vulnerability issues
  associated with older infrastructure.
• 3.5 Building on existing programs, implement
  additional water conservation strategies and
  incentives.
• 6.2 Model and monitor the impacts of changes to
  precipitation on groundwater recharge and flood
  risk.
• 6.3 Continue and expand systematic monitoring of
  key terrestrial and aquatic indicators.

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Preliminary Recommendations

• Expand understanding of our current emissions and
  trends and of climate change impacts
• Policies and procedures to effectively address
  climate change
• Options for corporate and community GHG reduction
  targets
• Actions to improve Peels resilience to local
  impacts
• Actions that support economic opportunities from
  mitigation and adaptation efforts and
• Increase public education and awareness.

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Some Work is Already Underway

• Each partner organization is working on a number
  of ongoing activities and programs
• Each partner organization is at a different point
  along the climate change continuum
• Wide range of activities and understanding of the
  subject matter across the organizations.
• Developed two background reports on climate
  change adaptation and mitigation.
• Held 2 workshops (December 2009 and September 1,
  2010)

• For more information on background reports and
  workshop summary, visit www.peelregion.ca/climatec
  hange

Green Roof in Peel
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Challenge Ahead

• Urgent need to respond to climate change at the
  local level
• Strategy builds upon current work and successes
  and recommends actions to fill gaps
• Short-term establish baselines, understand
  vulnerabilities, help to advance the science
• Medium to Long-term changes to policies,
  protocols and standards on-going monitoring and
  modeling of impacts
• Support needed from community and senior levels
  of government

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Reminders, Next Steps Evaluation

• Next Steps
• Workshop Summary Report End of Sept
• Draft Climate Change Strategy October
• Status Report to Regional Council December
• Consultation with Councils/CA Boards Early 2011
• Adoption of Strategy Early 2011

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For More Information
www.peelregion.ca/climatechange Bryan Hill,
Manager, Planning Policy and Research
Division Tel [phone], Ext. 4047 Email
bryan.hill_at_peelregion.ca