Download Peel Climate Change Strategy

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Peel Climate Change Strategy
Bryan Hill, Manager, Planning Policy and Research Division,
Corporate Services, Region of Peel
September 28, 2010
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.
Sources of Local GHG Emissions
Passenger
Vehicles
20%
Freight & Diesel
12%
Source: Ontario Emission Actual Percentages by GGAP Theme, 2008 National GHG Inventory
Mitigation and Adaptation
Mitigation
Adaptation
Reduced Air
Travel
Green Roofs
Sewer
Upgrades
Capture
Landfill Gas
Better
Insulation
Heat Alert
System
Expand Transit
Use
Permeable
Pavement
Vector Disease
Control
Energy
Conservation
Reduce Peak
Demand
Control of
Invasive
Species
Active
Transportation
Expand Tree
Canopy
And others….
And others…
Business
Continuity
Planning
And others…
Source: U of T and OPPI Professional Development Course: Preparing for Climate Change, October 2008.
How Will our Climate Change?
Global Climate Model Projections for Region – 2050s
Annual Mean
Temps Warming
2.6 – 4.0 C
Annual Mean
Precip Increasing
6-10%
Scenario data from AR4 CGCM3 and HadCM3
Changes relative to 1961-1990 Baseline Climate
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
HillsLake, Brampton
Professor’s
Potentially Affected Sectors in Peel
Agriculture
Natural Heritage
Built Form
Transportation
Energy
Water Resources
Human Services
Public
Infrastructure
Industrial/
Commercial/
Institutional
Public Health
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 frontline 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. It’s where people live, work and
play.
Peel Region Official Plan Review: Sustainability – Background Paper, 2008
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
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?
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.
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
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
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
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 Ontario’s 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).
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.
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 Peel’s resilience to local
impacts;
 Actions that support economic opportunities
from mitigation and adaptation efforts; and
 Increase public education and awareness.
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/climatechange
Green Roof in Peel
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
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
For More Information
www.peelregion.ca/climatechange
Bryan Hill, Manager, Planning Policy and Research Division
Tel: (905) 791-7800, Ext. 4047
Email: [email protected]