The City's 2020 Climate Change Mitigation Plan includes updates on many key targets and provisions that will help Prince George reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the decades to come.
AN UPDATED PLAN
- The 2020 Climate Change Mitigation Plan replaces the City's 2007 Energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management Plan that had GHG reduction targets to 2012.
- It includes updated GHG emission inventories and short, medium, and long-term
reduction targets leading to 2050 and modelled actions that can be taken to achieve them.
- The Plan focuses on six main areas for improvement: transportation, land use, buildings, waste management, renewable energy, and policy, decision-making, and reporting.
CONTACT US
Have questions about the 2020 Climate Change Mitigation Plan? Or need more information? Contact us.
Environmental Services Division
3990 18th Avenue
Prince George, BC V2N 4R8
Phone: 250-561-7600
Email: environment@princegeorge.ca
Our Local Climate is Changing
The climate is changing globally, but in northern communities like Prince George, the climate is changing at an accelerated rate. Our annual average temperature has already increased by nearly two degrees Celsius since 1942 and seasonal rain and snowfall have decreased over the past several decades.
The impacts of climate change are being felt locally, resulting in:
- Warmer winters that lead to flooding in low-lying areas because of increased seasonal rainfall not able to be conveyed through frozen catchbasins.
- More trees being killed by beetle populations that survive through milder winters.
- Hotter and drier summers that spark historic wildfires.
- Long winter cold snaps - known as the polar vortex - caused by a weakened jet stream.
Projections show that by 2050 Prince George can expect more rainfall and frost-free days in winter and more cases of extreme precipitation year-round. All of this will affect buildings, infrastructure, public health and safety, air quality, and the natural environment.
Why Take Action Against Climate Change?
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION?
- Climate change mitigation focuses on doing what we can to minimize or preventing its effects.
- This means taking actions like reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy, and preserving forests, wetlands, and soil that absorb carbon.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
- By mitigating climate change's effects, we reduce the costs of needing to adapt to changing future conditions.
- Businesses and residents save money by reducing energy bills through energy efficiency. The average Prince George resident spends
$3,300 a year on energy and fuel costs.
- Investing in green technologies and businesses can lead to jobs and support local economic development opportunities.
SOCIAL & PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS
- Actions that mitigate climate change can also lead to improved local air quality and public health and well-being.
- Many climate change mitigation strategies also support vibrant and healthy communities.
- Examples of improvements include walkable communities, improved public transportation that furthers accessibility, and adding beautifying urban areas by planting trees.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
- By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, we improve air quality.
- Actions that address climate change can also foster healthier and more resilient ecosystems, such as increasing the urban tree canopy or helping protect or re-establish wetlands.
- Preserving the natural environment also ensures Prince George is better at adapting to a changing climate.
Corporate Emissions vs. Community Emissions
Corporate Emissions
- Corporate emissions are direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption by City operations.
- GHG emissions are not directly associated with energy consumption or energy costs.
- The vehicle fleet accounts for more than half (51 per cent) of the City's corporate emissions, but only makes up 24 per cent of energy use.
- In 2017, the City emitted
8,148 tonnes of CO2e.
Community Emissions
- Community emissions result from energy consumption activities the City has influence over such as heat and electricity use in residential and commercial buildings, fuel used by transportation, and waste production.
- Community emissions do not include industrial emissions, which the City has no influence over.
- In 2017, Prince George emitted
555,000 tonnes of CO2e.
New Targets for Prince George
The City's goal is to reduce corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions in the long term through ambitious, but achievable, targets. These targets - outlined in the 2020 Climate Change Mitigation Plan - are set for 2025, 2030, 2040, and 2050 and the ultimate goal is to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 from 2017 levels.
The 80 per cent goal is in line with targets set by the other municipalities and the Provincial Government.
CORPORATE TARGETS
-
5 per cent reduction in emissions by
2025
-
17 per cent reduction in emissions by
2030
-
50 per cent reduction in emissions by
2040
-
80 per cent reduction in emissions by
2050
COMMUNITY TARGETS
-
5 per cent reduction in emissions by
2025
-
12 per cent reduction in emissions by
2030
-
50 per cent reduction in emissions by
2040
-
80 per cent reduction in emissions by
2050
Want to Know More About the 2020 Climate Change Mitigation Plan?
Other Ways the City is Fighting Climate Change
| | In 2004, the City of Prince George identified opportunities to reduce fleet fuel costs and, at the same time, develop a program to help improve air quality. An Anti-idling Campaign was created to help the City meet its environmental objectives in the areas of greenhouse gas emission reduction, improved air quality, energy use conservation, noise reduction, and efficient resource use.
A community-wide Vehicle Idle-Free Program was developed to educate businesses, local government, educational institutions, and residents on the benefits of implementing an Idle-Free program for their fleets and personal vehicles to increase fuel efficiencies and to reduce harmful vehicle emissions.
The City Fleet Idling Policy was approved by Council in 2010 to reduce unnecessary idling of vehicles used by city operations, transit buses, contracting equipment, and residents within the community. | 1 | Climate Change Mitigation | Climate Change Mitigation | 322 | 1 | | | The City of Prince George shares a 100 per cent electric vehicle, a Nissan Leaf, through an Memorandum of Understanding with the Fraser Fort-George Regional District, Northern Health, and the University of Northern British Columbia. The car has proven to be a reliable, zero-emission fleet vehicle.
A new Chevy Bolt was also added to the City fleet in June 2018. The vehicle is expected to save the City around 5,000 litres of gas and nearly 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents over a period of seven years. Prince George joined the Fleet Champions Program in December 2016 as an On-Ramp Partner and pledged to "Evaluate Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEVs) as part of all fleet purchases and leases (including, but not requiring, piloting the use of a small number of ZEVs) AND annually revisiting this pledge to consider a higher ZEV procurement goal". | 2 | Climate Change Mitigation | Climate Change Mitigation | 322 | 1 | | | Partners for Climate ProtectionThe City of Prince George joined the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program in 2002. The PCP program provides a framework to define goals for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Prince George's plan includes actions to be taken at both the corporate (i.e. municipality operations) and community levels. The PCP program is based on five milestones:
MILESTONE 1
| Create a greenhouse gas emissions inventory forecast.
| MILESTONE 2
| Set a reduction target.
| MILESTONE 3
| Develop a Local Action Plan.
| MILESTONE 4
| Implement a Local Action Plan.
| MILESTONE 5
| Measure progress and report results.
|
The City of Prince George achieved Milestone 5 in 2011 and was one of the first five communities in Canada to do so. | 3 | Climate Change Mitigation | Climate Change Mitigation | 322 | 1 | | | Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP)Climate action is a key Provincial priority and local governments are partners in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and creating complete, compact, and energy-efficient communities. The Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) is a conditional grant program that provides funding to BC Climate Action Charter signatories equivalent to 100 per cent of the carbon taxes they pay directly. This funding supports local governments in their efforts to achieve Charter goals. The City of Prince George sends information to the Province on a yearly basis through CARIP reports. These reports detail the City's corporate greenhouse gas emissions and actions taken to reduce them: For more information: | 4 | Climate Change Mitigation | Climate Change Mitigation | 322 | 1 | | | Corporate Energy ManagementDowntown Renewable Energy SystemOriginally built in 2012, the Downtown Renewable Energy System now delivers heat to 11 buildings throughout downtown including the Law Courts, City Hall, the Wood Innovation and Design Centre, and the RCMP detachment on Victoria Street. The fuel comes from Lakeland Mills, which burns sawmill residue to heat water, which is then distributed through a piping system throughout the downtown area. Using a renewable fuel – biomass – instead of a fossil fuel – natural gas – has the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by close to 2,000 tons per year.
Prince George Aquatic Centre Boiler UpgradeThe Aquatic Center boilers were upgraded to condensing boilers saving 4,380 GJ per year which is equivalent to heating 42 homes for an entire year
RCMP Building Solar WallThe solar wall at the RCMP detachment downtown pre-heats air for the building saving 150 GJ of energy per year. This is equivalent to 4,500 litres of gasoline. In 2015, Prince George won the Community Energy Association's Climate and Energy Action award in recognition of the significant energy reduction initiatives in the RCMP building.
CN Centre Lighting UpgradeThe CN Centre Arena lighting was upgraded to LED, saving 250,000 kWh per year. This is equivalent to the annual electricity use of 23 homes.
| 5 | Climate Change Mitigation | Climate Change Mitigation | 322 | 1 |
|
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What Can You Do to Fight Climate Change?
CONSERVE ENERGY
- Wear a sweater or use a blanket at home instead of turning up the heat.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent or LED bulbs.
- Unplug chargers and small appliances when not in use.
- Wash clothes in cold water and hang to dry.
- Run dishwashers only when they're full or, if washing by hand, rise in cold water.
For more information:
REDUCE WASTE
- Produce less waste by recycling, composting, or purchasing items made with bio-degradable or compostable materials.
- Set up a backyard compost and turn food products and yard waste into natural fertiliser for lawns and gardens.
For more information:
USE ALTERNATE TRANSPORT
- Take advantage of the transit system.
- Carpool whenever possible.
- Walk or bike instead of driving short distances.
For more information:
