Letter from CRD Chair Desjardins Re: COMMUNITY ENERGY AND EMISSIONS INVENTORY

RE: COMMUNITY ENERGY AND EMISSIONS INVENTORY

The Capital Regional District (CRD) seeks provincial action to deliver on its climate action reporting commitments to support local and regional governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We request that the Province continue to provide on-road transportation sector data in future Community Energy and Emissions Inventories (CEEI).

With the introduction of the BC Climate Action Charter in 2007, the Province committed to supporting local government emission tracking by publishing CEEI every two years. As on-road transportation is recognized as a major contributor to community emissions (over half in the capital region, for example), they were a part of the 2007 and 2010 CEEI. The 2012 CEEI, released in January 2017, did not include on-road transportation and there has been no release of the 2014 reports. The tracking and reporting of these emissions is a critical component of any local government climate action strategy to meet Official Community Plan and Regional Growth Strategy emission reduction targets, as well has Bill 27 and BC Climate Action Charter commitments.

The CRD and our community are committed to climate action. The region's municipalities and the CRD have signed on to the Climate Action Charter. In addition, the CRD established a Climate Action Service to support corporate, municipal, electoral area and public initiatives, fulfilled our provincial climate commitments and incorporated a climate lens for our major capital projects and all service delivery. The Province estimates that local governments have control or influence over approximately 45% of the greenhouse gas emissions in British Columbia. They also experience the greatest impacts of climate change and are best suited to reducing their community's vulnerability. However, the CRD is also reliant on the Province for timely and accurate data to reduce emissions.

The CRD, along with other local governments, requires on-road transportation data, timely resources and ongoing support to build low carbon, resilient and healthy communities. The CRD looks forward to working with the Province on key aspects of climate action and encourages the Province to deliver on its commitments as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Barb Desjardins Chair, Capital Regional District Board

cc: Mayor Windsor and Council, District of Central Saanich Mayor Hamilton and Council, City of Colwood Mayor Desjardins and Council, Township of Esquimalt Mayor Williams and Council, District of Highlands Mayor Young and Council, City of Langford Mayor Ranns and Council, District of Metchosin Mayor Finall and Council, District of North Saanich Mayor Jensen and Council, District of Oak Bay Mayor Atwell and Council, District of Saanich Mayor Price and Council, Town of Sidney Mayor Tait and Council, District of Sooke Mayor Helps and Council, City of Victoria Mayor Screech and Council, Town of View Royal Director Hicks, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Director McIntyre, Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director Howe, Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area