Climate Action Reporting

Where we Use Energy and Create Emissions

We use energy and create Green House Gases (CHGs) when:

  • we drive our cars;
  • we heat and cool our homes and businesses; and
  • we transport our goods.

We also create GHGs when:

  • our garbage decomposes in landfills,
  • we grow our food through fertilizer use, manure management and animal digestion; and
  • we cut down tress that aren't replaced

Why Take Action?

The purpose of the Climate Action Planning process is to help manage energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. There are many benefits to taking actions, such as:

  • Minimizing climate impacts by mitigating GHG emissions;
  • Reducing energy costs through energy efficiency and conservation;
  • Reducing vulnerability to fluctuating energy markets through reduced reliance on fossil fuels;
  • Creating local economic development opportunities by promoting a green economy, including clean technology, renewable energy, water services, green transportation, etc...; and
  • Supporting sustainability and livability by building compact, complete communities.

What We Do

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), in partnership with its member municipalities, developed regionally coordinated Climate Action Plans (CAPs) for itself and interested member municipalities. The CAPs provide each local government, community and Electoral Area within the RDOS with targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in local government operations as well as community-wide emissions reductions.

These efforts are in response to Provincial legislative requirements to have targets, policies and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions set in our local Official Community Plans, and to undertake voluntary commitments made by our local governments under the BC Climate Action Charter.

Community Climate Action

In the RDOS, all Electoral Areas and the following communities are participating in the Climate Action:

  • Summerland;
  • Penticton;
  • Oliver;
  • Osoyoos;
  • Keremeos; and
  • Princeton

Each of these participating communities and RDOS Electoral Areas "A", "C", "D", "E", "F", and "H" have amended their Official Community Plans to adopt targets and associated policies, which generally include:

  • Strategies and actions to reduce emissions; and review of development proposals, Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws for fulfilling the GHG target requirements adopted in the OCP.
  • Performance measurements for tracking progress towards the reduction targets.

The Climate Action Plans have also been adopted and incorporated into the Sub-Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) as adopted by the RDOS.

COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION PLANS - March 31, 2016

 

A regional strategy aimed at reducing emissions from private vehicles in the community is Carpool.ca.

Corporate Climate Action

As signatories to the Provincial Climate Action Charter, the Regional District and participating member municipalities have undertaken voluntary commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in local government operations.  The Regional District's Corporate Climate Action Plan provides targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its local government operations, and energy audits have been done on RDOS facilities with the intent to implement energy efficiency measures.  Emissions are reported to the province annually through its Climate Action Rebate Incentive Program (CARIP).

 Regional District Corporate Climate Action Plan

RDOS CORPORATE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN - March 31, 2011 

  • CARIP Reporting, 2015
  • CARIP Reporting, 2016
  • CARIP Reporting, 2017

  • CARIP Reporting 2018      

    The RDOS annually reports to the Province on Green House Gas emissions from its operations. Not only are financial and emissions tabulated, but a required component of the report is a narrative. The narrative answers standardized questions and provides a broader outline on the Corporation’s actions on climate change adaptation and mitigation, both corporately and in the greater community. In 2017, the RDOS West Bench Home Owner Leak Detection Program caught the eye of the Provincial oversight group. The RDOS was asked to provide more details on the program and photos, which are now added to the overall Provincial Report as inserted here. Look to page 7 for our highlight in the Community Engagement category.

  • Summary Report on Local Government Climate Actions 2017