Summerland Comprehensive Climate Action Planning Project

The District of Summerland (pop. 11,615) will be carrying out a climate action planning project in order to reduce corporate and community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The project will result in significant emission reductions by providing pragmatic, evidence-based 5-year action plans including a Community Action Plan (CAP) and a Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) to be followed as part of the District of Summerland’s pursuit of Milestone 5 of the Partners for Climate Protection Program (PCP). Furthermore, two operational plans will be included in the CEEP: Building Energy Audits and a Green Fleet Action Plan. Following the Summerland Comprehensive Climate Action Planning Project, the District will have clear plans with achievable strategies to accomplish the existing goals of becoming carbon neutral in operations and reducing community-wide GHG emissions by 33% of 2007 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The plans will also help address the District’s vulnerability to climate change by including climate adaptation considerations, particularly around water conservation given the community’s economic reliance on agriculture. The Plans will provide a clear roadmap to achieve the climate action objectives established by the community and Council.Through community consultations, detailed energy assessments, and educational sessions, the revised Climate Action Plans will empower all sectors of the community to take a leadership role on Climate Action. This will strengthen the community in several ways, including: creating jobs for energy retrofitters and hardware providers; increasing energy efficiency and keeping dollars in the community rather than flowing to external energy companies; reducing operational costs and thereby limiting tax increases; and improving comfort and quality of life for residents.