Download 99PWW084 - City of Edmonton

Agenda Item No.: G.1.h. C
Initiatives of the 20% Club for CO2 Reduction.
Recommendation:
1. That the strategy for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from City
operations (referenced in the Council
approved Environmental Strategic Plan
Topic 2.1) summarized in Attachment 1
be received for information.
2. That this report be used as the basis of
the submission to the Voluntary
Challenge & Registry and the Federation
of Municipalities Partners for Climate
Protection program.
Report Summary

The report presents the plan for
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
from City operations.
Previous Committee Action



At the Utilities and Public Works
Committee meeting on May 13, 1997 the
following motion was passed: “That the
April 28, 1997 Asset Management and
Public Works Department report be
received for information” including a
commitment for the development of a
“CO2 reduction strategy”.
At the Council meeting of 7th October
1997, a motion was passed that “the
administration include an additional
$80,000 in the Office of the
Environment 1998 budget to perform a
study of options and implications for
achieving greenhouse gas emissions
reduction in Edmonton”.
At the Council meeting of July 20th,
1999, the Environmental Strategic Plan
Policy Document was approved. This
includes approval of the Strategic
Direction 2.1 “Reduce community-wide
greenhouse gas emissions”.
Routing:
Delegation:
Written By:
September 20, 1999
File: 99PWW084
Report

The City has had a commitment since
1995 to the Voluntary Challenge and
Registry (VCR) program and the
emissions reduction target of the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
(FCM) Partners for Climate Protection
program. Strategies for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from City
operations were examined for reaching
both: a) the Kyoto target (6% reduction
below 1990 figures by 2008); and, b) the
FCM target (20% reduction below 1990
emissions figures).
 If no GHG emissions reduction were to
be implemented, emissions from City
operations would likely increase 12% by
the year 2008.
 For City operations, the Kyoto 6%
reduction target can be met and exceeded
with proven and available technology.
Three-quarters of the FCM 20%
reduction target (i.e. 16%) can be met
with similar technology. Research and
development of specific applications of
new and emerging technologies will be
required to attain the 20% FCM target.
Longer-term emission reduction
requirements beyond 2008, to offset
projections of emission increases due to
City growth, will rely heavily on the
application of emerging technologies.
 Emissions from City operations represent
only a small portion (3%) of the total
GHG emissions from within Edmonton’s
boundaries. City operations were
examined first to: (1) demonstrate civic
leadership and promote awareness; and
(2) determine a viable methodology
before tackling the much wider set of
circumstances associated with emissions
from community wide sources - for
Transportation and Public Works Committee, City Council
W. D. Burn
M. T. Brostrom
Asset Management & Public Works
(Page 1 of 2)
G
1
h
C
Initiatives of the 20% Club for CO2 Reduction
which the City has no control over action
and enforcement.
 A task force comprised of members of the
administration, in consultation with key
stakeholders, will develop the
community-wide options for greenhouse
gas emissions reductions. This process
will take into account the strategy for
City operations, the findings of the
Options Paper of the Municipalities Table
and provincial round table findings.
Options to reduce community-wide GHG
emissions are expected by year-end 1999.
 To ensure Edmonton’s approach is
consistent with other jurisdictions, the
City’s Office of the Environment is
represented on Alberta’s Clean Air
Strategic Alliance (CASA) Climate
Change Project Team and also on the
Federal Municipalities Table, which is
providing input into Canada’s National
Strategy on Climate Change.
 Several companies, including EPCOR,
have initiated greenhouse gas emission
reduction strategies. EPCOR is currently
reporting reduction of 6% below 1990
emission levels.
Budget / Financial Implications


Decisions already made by Council on
planned capital expenditures such as bus
replacement and the energy management
revolving fund for buildings positively
impact greenhouse gas emissions. Any
changes to these capital expenditures
would result in a corresponding positive
or negative impact on the City’s
greenhouse gas emissions. Already
planned projects (Level I expenditure)
will limit the increase in emissions at
year 2008 to 1.5% above 1990 figures.
Additional GHG emissions reduction
strategies (Level II), for implementation
during the 8-year period 2000 to 2007,
will cost approximately $20.7 million
and reduce emissions at 2008 by 16%.
This will yield operating savings of
$22.1 million from 2001 to 2008. Over
12 years, these savings will increase
significantly to $41.8 million.

Approximately $2.1M for piloting
(Level III(a) expenditure) will also be
required for introducing new
technologies necessary to fully achieve
the FCM 20% target and to constrain
emissions growth beyond 2008. Partners
will be sought to help offset these costs.

Level II and IIIa projects will be
included in the departments’ annual
budget submissions as required.
Justification of Recommendation
1. In 1995, the City of Edmonton
committed to both VCR program and the
emissions reduction program of the
FCM. These programs require
submission of action plans detailing how
specific greenhouse gas emissions
targets will be met and how progress will
be measured. Attachment 1, Overview of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction
Plan for City Operations, describes the
overall approach that is needed to enable
the City to meet its commitments for
greenhouse gas stabilization and
reduction.
Background Information Attached
1. Overview of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Reduction Plan for City Operations
Others Consulted for this Report
1. Environmental Advisory Committee.
Others Approving this Report
1. Environmental Steering Committee.
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