Climate Action Planning

In 2013, Council adopted the Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP), a plan which identifies opportunities to reduce North Cowichan's energy consumption and emissions through community actions, policy and other municipal mechanisms. We are now in the implementation phase of an exciting project that will help guide the future of land use, local economy, energy use, and emission reductions in our community.  The Climate Action and Energy Plan is helping North Cowichan lower its energy and carbon footprint while improving the local economy and quality of life for residents and visitors.

Climate Action and Engergy Plan

UPDATE: August 2018

North Cowichan has received a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to update the emissions modelling used in the 2013 Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP). The $78,800 grant comes from the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program, funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by FCM. The grant will be used to:

  • Update the original greenhouse gas modeling to address changes in land use and development patterns, respond to technological advancements, and provide more functional and user-friendly tools for monitoring.
  • Obtain a progress update on the Municipality’s emissions reductions goals in order to determine if the goals in the CAEP are attainable. 
  • Reschedule and reevaluate existing projects and determine if there are any new projects that should be implemented.
  • Develop an Implementation and Monitoring Framework that identifies quantifiable outcomes, timelines, and objectives to ensure progress towards emission reduction targets.

What is the Climate Action and Energy Plan?

The Climate Action and Energy Plan  (CAEP) was adopted by Council on February 20, 2013.  The CAEP has taken inventory of our community's existing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and identified future trends based on population, land-use, technology and other factors.  The CAEP identifies opportunities to reduce energy consumption and emissions through community actions, policy, and other municipal mechanisms.  The CAEP articulates a detailed understanding of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of the proposed emissions and energy reduction actions which will guide us as we select the best actions to pursue.  The CAEP is informed by in-person and online public input and has a low carbon economy focus.

The CAEP will guide North Cowichan towards reaching the following targets:

  1. achieve a 33% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025 and an 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050;
  2. sequester more carbon than we produce.

At its regular meeting on October 15, 2014 Council adopted the Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP) Implementation and Monitoring Framework .  Council directed staff to prepare an implementation plan when the CAEP was adopted in February 2013. The Implementation Framework was developed by staff together with the Environmental Advisory Committee and builds upon the recommended actions in the CAEP to develop a comprehensive, robust and easier to read document. 

Moving Forward

We are now in the implementation phase of an exciting project that will help guide the future of land use,  energy use, and emission reductions in our community.  The CAEP is helping North Cowichan lower its energy and carbon footprint while improving the local economy and quality of life for residents and visitors. 

Funding for climate action and corporate energy projects is facilitated by a 0.5% tax which is put into a reserve fund annually (CAEP Reserve Fund).  Energy savings realized from projects that were enabled by expenditures from the fund are also put back into the fund. Money from the fund can then be used to offset the costs of future climate action or corporate energy projects which will help to ensure sustainable funding sources into the future and reduce the Municipality's capital budgets. 

The CAEP reserve fund was established in 2014 and a Terms of Reference document was developed to guide the management and expenditures from the fund. In 2017, Council approved changes to the CAEP Terms of Reference to better focus funding towards current environmental priorities and enable outside organizations the ability to receive funding for projects that action the CAEP (similar to the grant in aid process).  Please see the Climate Action Community Grants  webpage for more information.

Informative Websites

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