What is Delta Doing?
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Delta's Climate Change Resolutions
Up to half of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are under the direct or indirect control or influence of municipal governments, like the Corporation of Delta. So we can make a difference. In Delta, we are already experiencing the impact of climate change in the form of increased flooding events in low lying areas due to a greater number of intense storm surges. In the future we expect to be further impacted by storm surge, sea level rise, severe rain events and drought. We can reduce our emissions and adapt to decrease the severity of future impacts by making good land-use, transportation planning, infrastructure, green purchasing, retrofit, water conservation and renewable energy decisions.
Follow the links below to learn about climate change resolutions endorsed by Delta Council in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, improve public services and save costs associated with energy and waste.
| Partners for Climate Protection | |
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In 2005, the Corporation of Delta became a member of the national Partners for Climate Protection program (PCP). The program is lead by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The PCP program is a five step program that leads local governments through a series of climate action decisions and actions following the "plan, do, check and act" method. |
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| Corporate Climate Change Initiative | |
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| The Office of Climate Action & Environment | |
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| BC Climate Action Charter | |
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In 2007, the Corporation of Delta signed the provincial Climate Action Charter.It is a joint local-provincial government voluntary commitment to climate change and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. The Charter was drafted by the province. Approximately 176 local governments have signed the Climate Action Charter which commits local governments to becoming carbon neutral with respect to municipal operations by 2012; to inventory community greenhouse gas emissions; to create strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and to plan complete, compact and energy efficient communities.
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| Community Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets | |
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In the spring of 2010, the province of British Columbia mandated that all local governments in the lower mainland adopt community greenhouse gas emission reduction targets as part of their Official Community Plan. The Corporation of Delta complied with this mandate as legislated by Bill 27 to adopt community greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of 33% of 2007 levels by 2020 and 80% of 2007 levels by 2050. These targets are the same as the province's reduction standards.
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| Community Energy and Emission Plan | |
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| Mexico City Pact | |
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Mayor Lois E. Jackson attended the United Cities and Local Government World Congress and World Mayors Summit on Climate held on November 21, 2010 in Mexico City as part of a Metro Vancouver delegation. Mayor Jackson signed the Mexico City Pact on behalf of the Corporation of Delta. The Mexico City Pact was presented and signed by 135 mayors from around the world. The Mexico City Pact is a voluntary pact intended to send a message to the global community that addressing climate change is of significant importance and that local governments play a major role in carrying out related climate action. Signatories have been asked to register their climate action policies and projects onto the Carbonn Registry in order to share information about best practices with other local governments around the world. The Corporation of Delta has completed this task and is now considered as a Mexico City Pact Pioneer.
For more information about the Mexico City Pact, visit World Mayors Summit on Climate webpage. For more information about the Carbonn Registry, visit the Carbonn Registry website at http://carbonn.org/ |
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Reducing Delta's Carbon Footprint
Over the last several years, Delta has participated in the following sustainable programs and initiatives in an effort to reach our Corporate Climate Change greenhouse gas reduction goals. By reducing our emissions or carbon footprint, we limit or reduce the rate and magnitude of climate change.
| Building Retrofits | |
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In early 2010, a comprehensive greenhouse gas and energy reduction retrofit of the Sungod Recreation Centre was completed. The project will result in emission reductions of 466 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. This represents a 27% decrease in emissions from the facility and a 5% overall decrease in Delta's total corporate GHG emissions. The emission reduction is equivalent to removing 100 vehicles from the road! The Project includes:
In 2011, a comprehensive greenhouse gas and energy reduction retrofit of the Ladner Leisure Centre was initiated. The project will result in emission reductions of 360 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. This represents a 34% decrease in emissions from the facility and a 4% overall decrease in Delta's total corporate GHG emissions. The emission reduction is equivalent to removing 80 vehicles from the road! The Project includes:
Together these two projects will represent almost a 10% reduction in Delta's corporate greenhouse gas emissions! |
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| Energy | |
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In 2008, Delta partnered with BC Hydro to support an Energy Manager position. This partnership continues today. The Energy Manager is responsible for managing Delta's energy use; creating and implementing energy related policies; and planning for energy efficiency improvements within the civic building stock where practical.
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| Municipal Hall's Rooftop Solar Hot Water System Project | |
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| Fleet | |
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| Community Planning | |
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A range of land use policies and community minded greenhouse gas emission reduction programs exist to reduce our community's carbon footprint, and to encourage vibrant, healthy and economically strong communities.
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| Green Growth Index | |
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The development of land provides opportunity to create sustainable communities were people can live, work and play. As new ways are found to incorporate green features into development projects, they become the inspiration for a new way of looking at our part in the greater ecosystem. These "new ways" are becoming standard and include energy, water and waste efficiency amenities that pay for themselves and enhance the value of property investments.
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| Climate Smart | |
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The Corporation of Delta teamed up with Climate Smart and Metro Vancouver to deliver a groundbreaking training program for small/medium-sized enterprises in Delta. This program cultivates business leadership, action and innovation around climate change throughout the Lower Mainland. Thirteen local businesses participated in the Delta-Climate Smart program in 2010. By training with Climate Smart, these participating organizations learned to measure their greenhouse gas emissions; identify best opportunities for reduction; and developed the internal capacity and analytical tools for continued climate action and business improvement. The 2011 program is currently underway and businesses are encouraged to sign up by contacting climate smart.
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| Electric Vehicle Bylaw | |
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Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change
While we may do our best to reduce emissions it may not be enough to avoid or stop climate changes like sea level rise and drought from happening in the future; therefore we must plan to adapt.
| Flood Protection and Emergency Services | |
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| International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Canada Adaptation Pilot Program | |
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Founded in 1990, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is an international association of 1,050 local, regional and national government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development. ICLEI is the largest global association of local governments working on sustainability and carries out works through international performance-based, results-oriented campaigns and programs. Delta has been a member of ICLEI since 2005. In 2008 Delta was chosen by ICLEI Canada as one of three cities in Canada to participate in a pilot adaptation tool kit study. Moving forward, Delta will be working with ICLEI Canada to address corporate and community adaptation issues over the next several years.
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| Local Climate Change Visioning and Landscape Visualization Project | |
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Since the mid-2000's the Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning at the University of British Columbia (CALP-UBC) has been working to advance decision making with respect to climate change through visualization. Boundary Bay village and the Ladner town centre are the subject of one of CALP-UBC's research projects. Staff is working with CALP-UBC to understand the impacts of flood adaptation efforts within our community.
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| Natural Resources Canada Sea Level Rise and Subsidence Studies | |
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Natural Resources Canada and the University of British Columbia partnered to study the physical, environmental and socio-economic impacts of climate change, specifically sea level rise, on Roberts Bank in the early 2000's. Later, in a separate study, Natural Resources Canada investigated the potential land subsidence occurring in the region, with potential to exacerbate the impacts of rising sea level. By participating in this research staff were able to incorporate up-to-date downscaled climate change data into management decisions.
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| Management and Restoration of Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area | |
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| Rain Garden Installations in Delta | |
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Recognition of our Achievements
- 2010 Solar Communities
In 2010, the Corporation of Delta became a SolarBC Solar Community. - 2009 Energy and Climate Action Award
The Corporation of Delta was recognized by the Community Energy Association at the 2009 Energy and Climate Action Awards with an honorable mention in the category of Corporate Operations for its "comprehensive, progressive and dynamic climate action strategy". - 2009 E3 Gold Level Accreditation
In 2009, the Corporation of Delta was awarded Gold level accreditation as part of the Fraser Basin Council's E3 Fleet Program. Delta, along with the City of Vancouver, was the first city in Canada to receive Gold level accreditation.
- 2008 BC Hydro Leadership Award
In 2008, Delta staff were recognized for excellence in work place energy conservation. - 2007 BC Hydro Turn it Off Challenge
A competition amongst municipalities for workplace conservation, Delta tied for first place with the City of Victoria in the BC Hydro Turn it Off Challenge.
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