Climate change is a global reality that affects us at a local level. The OCP’s network of centres concept establishes an urban structure that will allow people to live closer to jobs, shops, and services which will result in reduced per capita transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Taking other actions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, improve our energy efficiency, and adapt our infrastructure for changing environmental conditions is good long-term policy. Such actions can also help reduce common air contaminants that may impact human health.

It is a legislative requirement for municipalities to establish greenhouse gas reduction targets, take steps to become more complete and compact communities and implement measures to achieve emission reduction targets.

Our objective is to become a more energy-efficient community that reduces its greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on non-renewable fuels while adapting to climate change.

2030 CLIMATE ACTION TARGET: 33% reduction in community greenhouse gas emissions

Energy efficient buildings

Buildings in the District contribute around 50% of our community’s greenhouse gas emissions. As well as supporting other climate change initiatives, efficient buildings are resilient to higher energy prices and reduce the load on infrastructure. 

Reaching our building efficiency objective

Our objective is to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. 

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

1. Promote the development of green/energy-efficient buildings for new multifamily, residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings
2. Encourage residential energy conservation and building retrofits and promote access to senior government grants and incentives to achieve this
3. Advocate for energy efficiency ratings to be established in all homes for sale/resale
4. Facilitate emissions assessments and develop energy and greenhouse gas reduction strategies, working with other levels of government, energy providers, and the business community

Alternative energy supply options

In addition to reducing energy consumption, it is important that we explore renewable energy sources and systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that we reduce our dependency on fossil fuels

Reaching our alternate energy supply objective

Our objective is to encourage alternative energy sources and systems that lower greenhouse gas emissions.

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

1. Undertake feasibility assessments of District energy systems and advance these, where appropriate, through partnerships and the planning and redevelopment process
2. Encourage and facilitate new development to be district energy ready with hydronic systems where appropriate
3. Explore opportunities for a heat recovery system from the proposed sewage treatment plant
4. Require developers to conduct energy efficiency and alternative energy assessments for large develoments undergoing rezoning
5. Investigate potential renewable energy resources and applications including geoexchange, solar and biomassbased technologies, and consider use of incentives for homeowners undertaking green energy improvements
6. Advance opportunities for integrated, alternative energy systems such as Integrated Resource Recovery and carbon offset opportunities such as forestation, working with North Shore municipalities, Metro Vancouver, First Nations governments and other partners

Waste management

After buildings and transportation, waste is the third most significant source of greenhouse gases and currently contributes around 4% of carbon dioxide emissions in our community. Waste diverted to landfill sites has longterm environmental impacts and precludes opportunities to use these resources more effectively. 

Reaching our waste management objective

Our objective is to reduce the waste we generate and use the waste we do generate as a resource.

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

1. Support a 'zero waste' philosophy and advance efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost, building on the successes of existing programs such as North Shore Recycling Program
2. Initiate an organic waste pick-up and composting program in the District, working with Metro Vancouver and other partners 
3. Pursue further limits on residential waste once curbside composting is established
4. Facilitate extension of recycling service to multifamily and commercial developments
5. Explore opportunities with partners to use waste as a resource
6. Promote product stewardship from retailers and manufacturers to provide recyclable, returnable and/or biodegradable product packaging Develop an energy-efficient community that reduces its greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on non-renewable fuels while adapting to climate change

Climate change adaptation

Effective means of climate change mitigation include lowering our greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient land uses and transportation systems, reducing our need and reliance on conventional energy supplies and improving our waste management. At the same time as we seek to limit our contribution to climate change, it is also important to prepare for its impacts. 

Reaching our climate change adaptation objective

Our objective is to adapt proactively to climate change. This means integrating a climate change perspective into our infrastructure design and maintenance, ecosystem management and emergency preparedness.

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

1. Prepare for and respond to emergencies created by extreme weather events, working with the North Shore Emergency Management Office and service organizations
2. Assess potential climate change risks to our community to inform asset management decisions and to guide community and infrastructure planning and design, working with federal, provincial, North Shore municipal and First Nations governments, Metro Vancouver, and other partners
3. Encourage the management of shoreline areas to adapt to potential climate change impacts as well as to protect ecologically sensitive areas
4. Consider climate change implications in environmental management efforts to conserve biodiversity and enhance forest health