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SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW (SCC) CONFÉRENCE ET SALON PROFESSIONNEL SUR LES COLLECTIVITÉS DURABLES (CCD) WHAT I LEARNED AT THE SCC February 8-10, 2012 @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni DJ/MM/YA OTTAWA 2012 DAY 1 Wednesday February 8 The Context Municipalities control: • >50% of public infrastructure • 44% of GHG emissions • 8% of every tax dollar @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Building the Green Economy @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Building the Green Economy: Sustainable Prosperity • The global green economy: $4 trillion • Canada’s green technology market: • • X X $2.3 billion in 2010 $3.7 billion by 2014 Building the Green Economy National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy • • • • • Arctic sea ice loss Extreme weather events Rising insurance costs Pressure on biodiversity Cost to Canada in 2050: $43 billion @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Building the Green Economy Toronto Board of Trade Urban densities mean: • A global hub for capital and innovation • Fewer development pressures on sensitive areas • Greater energy efficiency • A need for transportation infrastructure @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Building the Green Economy Halifax Regional Municipality Local balance of payments: • Population 400,000 • Annual energy bill $1.7 billion • Percentage that leaves the region 70% • Responses to municipal solar program (1 month) 1,600 @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Seminar Sustainable Local Economic Development • Drayton Valley bio-industrial park diversifies local economy • Development in Toronto combines economic, environmental gains • Cowichan Valley forms Clean Technology Council @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Workshop: Speed Dating for Capital Green Municipal Fund: The story so far… • Original federal endowment $550 million • Projects funded 875 • Participating communities 434 • Jobs created 32,000 • GDP contribution $3.7 billion @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Advanced Training (Part 1): Partners for Climate Protection • Five-milestone program • Urgent need to reduce emissions • Feasible targets • Impact of regulation • Recommended 10-year goals: • • 6% of community emissions 20% of corporate emissions @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Advanced Training (Part 2): Partners for Climate Protection Putting plans into practice: • Integrate with wider community plans • Link climate to local issues • Start with what cities can control • Provide incentives • Bring third parties together • Focus on education and awareness @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Industry Exchange: Environmental Technology Verification Program • Environment Canada: Decision support tools • Enviro-accès: Demand and funding for anaerobic digestion technology • Walkerton Centre: Small systems, First Nations, operator training @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Placemaking Soul of the Community and Beyond @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Plenary: Placemaking – Soul of the Community and Beyond • • • • Does a sense of place still matter? What attaches us to place? Why does that sense of attachment matter? GDP grew faster in communities with more attached residents @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Seminar: Water and Wastewater Management in Small Communities • Opportunities for municipalities to collaborate with First Nations • 30-40% of Aboriginal communities must boil their water • Joint infrastructure for neighhbouring communities @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Workshop: Removing the Barriers to Brownfield Redevelopment • • • • • Brownfield action plans Site characterization Remedial plans Site remediation Funding for “brightfield” projects @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Industry Exchange: Financing Home Energy Efficiency • Retrofits complete on <10% of the housing stock • Defining efficiency measures as local improvements • Vancouver home energy loans • Nelson Hydro energy retrofits @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Peer-to-Peer Networking & Information Exchange 2012 Sustainable Community Awards DAY 2 Thursday, February 9 Revitalizing Low Density Communities Plenary Revitalizing Low-Density Communities • Primary mechanisms for revitalization: Changes in form and transportation infrastructure • High-density buildings deliver more municipal revenue • Changes in planning philosophy bring new industries, new attitudes @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Workshop: Net-Zero Buildings • Varennes’ new library: Canada’s first public net-zero energy building • Integrated design strategy • Grants: $6.8 million • Community fundraising: >$1 million @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Seminar: Small Communities, Powerful Changes • Dawson Creek: Solar hot water and electricity, green vehicles, energy-efficient street lights, anti-idling policy • County of Wellington: >1.3 million trees • Revelstoke: Citizen participation in a 20year planning exercise @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Advanced Training (Part 1): Implementing Sustainable Community Plans Five key elements: • Partner engagement • Community-wide action • Oversight • Monitoring • Communications @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Advanced Training (Part 2): Implementing Sustainable Community Plans Ingredients of a successful community partnership: • Bringing stakeholders together • Painting a picture of new possibilities • Fostering deeper relationships built on communication, trust @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Industry Exchange: Nature’s Place in Sustainable Communities Municipal tools to protect biodiversity: • Land use/urban planning • Licencing and regulation • Facilitation • Advocacy and leadership • Community service delivery @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Kicking the Fossil Fuel Habit Plenary: Kicking the Fossil Fuel Habit • • • • • More economic activity with less energy More energy with less carbon Municipal role in smart grid development New transportation systems More efficient buildings @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Workshop: Building the Business Case for Regional Food Systems Barriers to local food sustainability: • Perceived lack of supply • Limited focus on fruits and vegetables • Strong dependence on larger food companies • Lack of interest from health care institutions @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Industry Exchange: Climate Change Adaptation • • • • • Increased risk of severe weather hazards Limitations on insurance payouts Ecosystem integrity Citizen awareness and participation Protecting resources, local economic development @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Seminar: Energy Poverty, Housing Retrofits and Youth • Improved energy efficiency • Increased home comfort • Hundreds of dollars in energy savings per housing unit • Jobs for disadvantaged youth @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Workshop: Infrastructure Financing • Public infrastructure operated by municipalities: >50% • Infrastructure deficit, 2006: $123 billion • Canadian municipalities’ reliance on property tax: Excessive • Infrastructure programming: Short-term and unpredictable @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Industry Exchange: Integrating Land Use, Landscape, Climate, and Infrastructure Aspects of resilience through 2060: • How should we grow? • How will we get around? • How efficient will our buildings be? • How will energy be supplied? • How will we manage water and waste? • How will we feed ourselves? @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Study Tours Hosted by the City of Ottawa • Wastewater treatment facility (ROPEC) • Great Canadian Theatre Company • Beaver Barracks Additional Tours • Ottawa Convention Centre • FCM "Walking the Talk” @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Trade Show • 52 booths • Sustainability professionals from all sectors discuss and share best practices @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 DAY 3 Friday, February 10 Nordic Leaders’ Panel Plenary: Nordic Leaders’ Panel • • • • High level of self-government Independent taxation powers Focus on equality, poverty, social exclusion Political support, homebuilder training for energy-efficient construction • Climate change is accepted and addressed; little debate on whether action is necessary @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Seminar: Implementing Integrated Community Energy Solutions • • • • • • Local energy systems, local renewables Amenable to higher densities, mixed uses Better energy performance Reduced carbon footprints Lower energy costs District energy the “game-changer” @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Advanced Training (Part 1): Sustainable Municipal Procurement Benefits of sustainable procurement: • Eco-efficiency • Brand enhancement • Financial ROI • Reduced risk • Employee engagement • Strategic supplier relationships @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Advanced Training (Part 2): Sustainable Municipal Procurement Procurement and corporate social responsibility: • What market intelligence do you gather? • What resources do you consume that could be conserved? • What are your risks over the next three to five years? @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Industry Exchange: Adaptation Initiative ― Cities Working Together • ICLEI-FCM joint initiative since the mid1990s • Municipalities vulnerable to rising temperature, extreme weather, sea level rise • Changing Climate, Changing Communities guide: www.iclei.org/canada @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Sustainable Communities and the GPT Transition Plenary: Sustainable Communities and the GPT Transition • Homer-Dixon: With rapid change, “we shouldn’t be surprised by surprise” • “Extraordinary opportunities” in economic transition • Liveable, resilient communities • General purpose technology @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Seminar: Public Health Opportunities in the Green Economy • Built environment and healthy living • From research to tools, policies, and processes • Healthy, walkable streets • Reclaiming a community’s energy future @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012 Seminar: Public-Private Partnerships: Making it Work in the Transportation Sector • Derived demand: Users don’t think of transportation when deciding where to live, work, go to school, or shop • 50% of public transit services have some form of public-private partnership @FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012