Summary - Capital Regional District 2007 & 2018 Energy & GHG Emissions Inventories
A summary report providing a regional comparison of GHG emissions for local governments within the Capital Regional District for the years 2007 and 2018.
SUMMARY
Climate change has emerged as the next unprecedented social, economic, and environmental challenge facing society today. It poses a serious threat to quality of life, jobs, and physical and natural assets. Scientists believe that the human-production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since pre-industrial times have already surpassed the Earth’s “carrying capacity” of natural systems and pose significant future risks to human well-being.
Recognizing the role that Capital Regional District (CRD) plays in achieving a significant and immediate reduction in global GHG emissions, the CRD set a regional GHG reduction target of 61% (from 2007 levels) by 2038. In February 2019, the CRD declared a climate emergency and committed to regional carbon neutrality. Local governments across the region have also set similar ambitious GHG reduction targets and commitments.
To meet these climate commitments, the CRD seeks a better understanding of the energy and GHG emissions at the regional level, as well as at the local government level which includes 13 municipalities and 3 electoral areas. The following document presents a summary of energy and GHG emissions at both the CRD and local government level for the 2007 and 2018 reporting years. This document compliments a 2018 inventory report which describes the methodologies and data sources applied to derive the estimate of GHG emissions for the CRD and local governments. A summary of the 2007 and 2018 energy and GHG emissions by local government is presented in Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 1. Summary of GHG Emissions By CRD Local Government
| Local Government | 2007 GHG Emissions (tCO2e) | 2018 GHG Emissions (tCO2e) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Central Saanich | 80,648 | 73,995 | -8.2% |
| City of Colwood | 80,838 | 78,506 | -2.9% |
| Township of Esquimalt | 95,893 | 85,786 | -10.5% |
| District of Highlands | 7,776 | 9,373 | 20.5% |
| Juan de Fuca Electoral Area* | 67,459 | 73,063 | 8.3% |
| City of Langford | 133,247 | 169,775 | 27.4% |
| District of Metchosin | 16,333 | 9,038 | -44.7% |
| District of North Saanich | 54,454 | 45,201 | -17.0% |
| District of Oak Bay | 89,140 | 77,178 | -13.4% |
| District of Saanich | 574,835 | 496,408 | -13.6% |
| Salt Spring Island Electoral Area* | 45,361 | 43,963 | -3.1% |
| Town of Sidney | 62,025 | 56,194 | -9.4% |
| District of Sooke | 46,616 | 46,574 | -0.1% |
| City of Victoria | 481,559 | 452,567 | -6.0% |
| Town of View Royal | 48,163 | 45,507 | -5.5% |
| Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area* | 28,947 | 29,220 | 0.9% |
* Land-use GHG emission estimates have been withheld due to limited land-use data.