Welcome!

State/Provincial Level Tools To Enable Local Government Action On Mitigation

With input from the Vancouver Climate Dialogue

An Event by the German Consulate General in Vancouver in collaboration with the Government of British Columbia’s Climate Action Secretariat

Funding Provided by Federal Foreign Office Federal Republic of Germany

Klimafonds 2015

• What State/Provincial level instruments have you yourself applied/experienced to enable higher adoption rates of renewable technology or practices?

• What has worked and what did not? • What kind of State/Provincial level

instruments/tools would you like to see implemented in the future based on your experience?

Guiding Questions

Climate Dialogue - “Klimaschutzdialog”

• Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)

• Funding: German National Climate Initiative (NKI)

• 3 year project (Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2015)

• Partner consortium of leading German think tanks, NGOs and networks advising on local climate action

• Target groups: local authoritiesnational level actors shaping framework

conditions

Process optimization, communication and mobilization

for local climate change mitigation

3adelphi | Klimschutzdialog | 2013 - 2015 |

• Long-term climate and energy policy up to 2050 aimed at fundamentally restructuring the energy system, and other sectors.

• Transition towards a highly efficient renewable energy system as an opportunity for generations to come.

• Climate and energy targets, cap and trade, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

• Focus on innovation and advanced technologies, on effective and cost-efficient measures in line with market and competition principles.

• Generating strong economic opportunities for growth and jobs in Germany.

German Climate and Energy Policy: Central Pillars

Renewable Energy in Germany

• The NKI is focusing on implementing the national climate targets for CO2 emission reductions:

• 2020 - 40 %• 2030 - 55 %• 2040 - 70 %• 2050 - 80 to 95 % (below 1990 level)

• The aim is to develop and implement a comprehensive long-term strategy

• Support for the achievement of the short-term 2020 goal needs to be enhanced (Action Program; and new Action Alliance)

National Climate Initiative (NKI)

Strategic governmental support for local climate action in Germany

• The Municipal Directive (KRL) provides funding for developing climate strategies, hiring personnel for climate action management, and for implementing climate measures in municipalities.

• Innovative special projects have helped the municipalities taking climate action, making use of funding (e.g. “SK:KK”, “Climate Dialogue”), and developing instruments and programs for shaping and further developing municipal climate action (e.g. “Klimaschutz Planer”)

Strategic framework for supporting climate action at municipal level

Re-active Advice Pro-active Advice

Regional and sub-regional

Informationtours

Workshops with regional key actors

Workshops with local decision makers

Telephone hotline

Personal consultation

Correspondence

Knowledge management in SK:KK

Instruments in Lower Saxony

• Climate and Energy Agency of Lower Saxony: offers consulting services for administrative bodies, training facilities; networking activities; information

• Funding programs, e.g.: – Founding of Local Climate and Energy Agencies – Concepts for District Development

• Consulting and training services e.g. in energy management

• Motivation: good practice award for municipalities

Climate Legislation in Lower Saxony

• Climate Change Act in the drafting process • Discussed regulatory content:

– GHG reduction targets for Lower Saxony– Adaptation to climate change as obligation – Implementation through the state government:

• anchor a comprehensive climate and energy action plan; • serve as a role model e.g. carbon-neutral state government

– Linkage to other fields of law (e.g. spatial planning)

Municipalities in the Climate Change Act

• Ongoing discussion on how to address municpalities

• Options discussed:– Obligation to climate action– Obligation to draft climate strategies/concepts– Obligation to fulfil energy management systems, do

mandatory energy reporting– No obligations – voluntary action (charta)

• Voluntary action, (incentives) or legal obligation?

• Insufficient knowledge about environmental impacts of renewable energy plants

• Insufficient knowledge about planning and approval processes

• Uncertainty in small communities and local licensing authorities due to complex issues and new jurisdiction

• Conflicts with nature conservation, species protection, landscape, aviation safety, monument protection, road construction, weather stations,…

Practical experience: Problems in the implementation of mitigation measures – the example of renewable energy

rejection in publicLong approval processes, high costs for

compensatory measures, high costs for municipalities

Delays in the implementation

Jobs and Economic Growth

Fundamentally, the solutions to climate change are:

• Clean energy and technologies• An economy based on innovation

and productivity• Highly skilled, high paying jobs

across BC

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BC Green Economy and JobsGLOBE Report • BC Green Economy (2008)

– $15 billion (10% of GDP)• Potential Growth (by 2020)

– $20-27 billion (11-14% of GDP)– 225,000 jobs

UK Dept for Business, Innovation and Skills• $5.2 trillion global green economy marketClean Tech Group• $7.8 trillion global venture investment in

clean tech

• Achieving BC’s targets expected to have faster annual job growth rate

• 2008, California jobs decreased 1% while green jobs increased 5%

Climate Action Charter

commitments

Being carbon neutral in respect of their operations Measuring and reporting on their community’s GHG emission profile (Community Energy Emissions Inventory- CEEI)Creating complete, compact, more energy efficient rural and urban communities

McCarthy Tétrault LLP / mccarthy.ca

Key Tools to Support Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation Actions (1)

¬ Official Community Plans – establishes community’s vision for sustainability and sets the tone for planning policy.

¬ Strategic management of municipal land and buildings – GHG reductions through operational efficiencies; lease/sale of municipal lands with climate change mitigation/adaptation goals in mind; building retrofits; transit planning.

¬ Planning application requirements – municipalities can establish required information, material or studies for zoning amendments, subdivisions and consents. This will support vulnerability assessments and risk management.

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McCarthy Tétrault LLP / mccarthy.ca

Key Tools to Support Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation Actions (2)

¬ Zoning Bylaws – Limitations on the use of land or construction of

buildings/structures in climate vulnerable areas (e.g. floodplains or valley lands).

Zoning bylaws promote more efficient land use patterns by allowing a more diverse mix of uses within a specified area to create the conditions for shorter commutes and by regulating neighbourhood densities. Zoning bylaws can also promote more energy efficient buildings through setbacks and building envelopes.

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McCarthy Tétrault LLP / mccarthy.ca

Key Tools to Support Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation Actions (3)

¬ Building code provisions that reduce GHG emissions through energy efficiency requirements and water conservation standards.

¬ Subdivision planning – assess design and layout within the context of climate change mitigation/adaptation.

¬ Parkland dedication – to preserve natural areas as a buffer against extreme weather.

¬ Protection of settlement boundaries to support more compact communities and maintenance of natural and agricultural areas.

¬ Others? Covenants/easements, incentives, spending programs…

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Non-hierarchical system of local government Region must add value at local level The interests of individual partners are

paramount, and only come second when the collective interest of the partners prevails

Result is coherent regional action which:• respects and reinforces the diversity,

character and integrity of local municipalities;• protects the natural environment we all rely

on; and• maintains cost effective service delivery to tax

payers

Collaborative GovernanceCollaborative Governance

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GHG

ISO 14064 1/2/3GHG AccountingCorporate InventoryEmission ReductionsOffset CreditsCarbon ManagementCarbon TaxProduct FootprintISO 14067Life Cycle AssessmentGHG ProtocolsValidation

ISO 50001Energy ManagementEnergy Efficiency

Utility Data Management

Carbon FinancingRenewable Energy

CertificatesCarbon IntensityFuel SwitchingGreen Building Performance

ISO 26000Corporate Social

ResponsibilitySustainable Business

PracticesWater ManagementWaste Management

Air QualityTransportation

GRI & ISO 14040Stakeholder Engagement

CSRENERGY

State/Provincial Tools for Local Climate Change Mitigation Options

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AdvisoryHow to Guide

GHG Methodology

Reporting Framework

Single Project Fund

Capacity Training

Planning Guidelines

Carbon TaxOffset Fram

eworkZero GHG

State/Provincial Tools for Local Climate Change Mitigation Options

0 10

AdvisoryHow to Guide

GHG Methodology

Reporting Framework

Single Project Fund

Capacity Training

Planning Guidelines

Carbon TaxOffset Fram

eworkZero GHG

Monitoring and Tracking

- Platform Architecture!

© GHG Accounting Services Ltd.

Under-utilized Asset Program (UUAP)

A: Look at your “richest” assets:

Hot – Smelly – Loud – Ugly

Q: Where to start?

© GHG Accounting Services Ltd.

Evaluation MethodologyO

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• Mature with several installations up and running

• Available in Canadian marketplace

Yield potential of each technology based on the climatic and physical characteristics

• Total Cost Review • Commodity Effect• Financial viability

over lifetime• Financing

Options

Maturity Yield Cost & Risk

Key Discussion Pathways

• Voluntary or Mandatory – Voluntold?• The right mix of carrots and sticks?• Where is the tipping point of a change process?• Move beyond singular lighthouse projects.• Triggering industry to chip in. • Make the laggers move. • No-renewables anonymous. • Perceived value of energy efficiency – social

equity.

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Thank you.

Let’s talk about it!

Svend AndersenGHG Accounting Services Ltd.

Svend.Andersen@ghgaccounting.cawww.GHGAccounting.ca

26adelphi | Klimschutzdialog | 2013 - 2015 |