Stratford Times August 9, 2024 Community Climate Action Plan presented after over a year of development CONTINUED FROM FRONT The plan is intended to advance priorities related to coun- cil’s 2021 climate emergency declaration, inform climate action rie to homes, industry, sraDSpOrEnON, ciation: hood, energy and wi nsure alannett with federal and provincial pas ee and help reduce community greenhouse-gas emissions. Through work on the CCAP, baseline an analysis re- vealed that in 2022, approximately 347,000 tonnes of car- bon dioxide equivalent community emissions were gener- ated in the city. Buildings, at 46 per cent of emissions, and transportation, at 43 per cent, were the largest sectors. Those emissions are expected to rise by 20 per cent in 2050 to 416,400 tonnes. Additionally, Stratford uses nine petajoules of energy each year, again based on data from 2022, and that is ex- pected to increase by 22 per cent in 2050 to 11 petajoules. “Energy costs are, by far, the most escalating factor when projecting community greenhouse gases and energy usage into the future,” a management report on the plan reads. “Community-wide energy costs range from $230 million in 2022 to between $700 million (low price range) and $1.1 billion (high price range) in 2050 — an increase of 220 per cent to 400 per cent. This translates to approximately $6,630 per capita in 2022 to more than $15,218 (low price range) to ae as (high price range) per capita utility cost burden in 2 To curb ee rise, the CCAP includes seven program ar- eas and more than 15 actionable items under those program areas. The program areas reflect community priorities and ad- dress the built environment, neighbourhoods, energy sup- ply, transportation and waste. They are: + Efficient Homes and Buildings + Efficient Industry * Low-Carbon Neighbourhoods + Energy Supply and Distribution + Efficient Transportation * Towards Zero Waste * Governance To achieve efficient homes and buildings, the plan rec- panied = sea ae ate brveram oe ee homes and uildings, Idi eee for - erfor- new cts, ia per! mance elie for buildings when qaling' or renting. To achieve low-carbon neighbourhoods, the plan recom- mends the establishment of net-zero neighbourhoods and green-development guidelines. To achieve efficient industry, the plan recommends the Soa of an industrial energy and climate best practice network. To achieve efficient the alignment of the CCAP with a ae ‘S eanepeaeG master plan to reduce overall time spent in personal vehicles and increase time spent walking, cycling and taking trains and buses, as well as the ee of an electric and low-emission vehicle-support pro; To achieve energy supply and distribution goals, the plan recommends the creation of a district-energy program, a heat-pump program, a solar hot-water program, and a so- lar-photovoltaic program. Solar photovoltaics reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and uses solar power as a cost-ef- fective, zero-carbon electricity alternative. To achieve zero waste, the plan recommends the align- ment of the CCAP with existing waste-management activi- ties to reduce compostable waste and amplify waste reduc- tion and recycling. Each actionable item has a recommended approach and what would be needed to achieve the program from part- ners, the city and residents, as well as estimated municipal i and potential emission reductions they could contrib- eaior instance, creating a deep-retrofit program for exist- ing homes would need a participation rate of 80 per cent of existing residential buildings and the creation of a business case for such a program from the municipality, costing an estimated $80,000-$100,000, 0, though funding may be avail- EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE e ee (CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) Bill James-Abra, founder of Climate Momentum, delegated at the July 24 infrastructirs; transportation and safety subcommittee meeting, saying that the wider community is “on side” with the Community Climate Action Plan that was presented. able through upper levels of government. It could reduce emissions by 19,000 tonnes a year, eight per cent of the yearly emissions in Stratforc The CCAP is one of two major plans developed by the city to address climate change, the other being the corpo- a ie and emissions plan (CEEP) that was approved othe Pitot CCAP can be found included in the com- ‘ittee meeting’s agenda at calendar.stratford.ca/ atts a ee a 24- Sake Infrastructure- S 041025c-792f- 4674- 8491 - nconerrts Bill James-Abra, founder of the grassroots climate change organization, Climate Momentum, delegated to the commit- tee on the CCAP, calling it and any other municipally led action against climate change “critical.” ‘It becomes frightening to acknowledge that action is needed because we don't know where to begin,” James- Abra said. “We don't know where to go and we feel alone in the face of it. ... But we're not alone and we have some places to start and it's precisely that spartan that the Community Climate Action Plan presents us wi “The Community Climate Action Plan is he kind of roadmap that provides the strategic direction we need and the community engagement that's needed to make the a work. And one of the big reasons for my being here is ... to assure you that the community is on side.” en committee approved the plan with some like Coun. McCabe praising Ghalib’s ae and the cost savings re plan could facilitate for resident During Ghalib’s presentation, ie indicated that through just an energy transition from fossil fuels controlled outside of Stratford to locally generated electricity, it could have a cumulative saving for the community between $5 billion and $7 billion from 2032 onward, as well as keep the money generated within the community. “Tm happy that it's being brought forward at this time for support,” ” McCabe said. “As the vice chair of finance, I was quite happy to hear about the $5-7 billion in savings possi- tle for oe residents if we get this right.” The CCAP will be presented to Stratford city council ata later date for final approval. The CCAP was funded through Ontario’s Ministry of Energy with the requirement that it be endorsed by council no later than Sept. 1. If approved by council, any and all programs suggested the plan een ae costs will still need to be approved eee by col aa ee on the eke work to daar cli- wate Pilates can be found at www.stratford.ca/en/ live-here/climate-action.aspx#Community-~ Climate. Ac tion-Plan-CCA! Weekend Quiz 1. Who shot Donald Trump? 2. What color of uniform do the Queen's Guard primarily wear? 3. What NBA Franchise has won the most championships? 4. What is the fastest fish in the world? 5. Who discovered America? 6. “Porcus” is the Latin word for what? 7. The process of cell duplication is known as what? 8. Who played Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead? 9. How many different kinds of triangles are there? 10. When did the Prohibition era start and end? This week’s answers are found on pg. 27