The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is drafting a Climate Change Action plan to be presented to the board in September.
The plan is based on recommendations suggested by the Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee, formed in 2021 and consisting of six selected technical experts from the community and three elected directors.
Jessica Beaubier, Climate Change and Resilience Co-ordinator, presented a report to the RDN board's regular meeting on July 23.
"Because of extensive work already completed on climate action prioritization in 2021, the goal was not to build a plan from scratch but to capitalize on that work, making sure that any new evolving risk or policy context were considered," said Beaubier. "This approach also aligns with the board’s current strategic plans to continue the advancing work in board approved plans and strategies."
CATAC's recommendations are based on three elements: ongoing support for existing, critical climate action initiatives; focused priorities to address existing gaps; and implementation of key strategic supports.
"The focus was on identifying actions that benefit other RDN programs and objectives, build on existing work, so maintain momentum and bring benefits to current and future residents," Beaubier said.
The five focused priorities suggested by CATAC include building wildfire resilience, regional water supply resilience, climate ready buildings (new and old), climate resilient policy and natural asset management.
"Each area, with the exception of wildfire resilience, builds on work prioritized under the original climate action technical advisory committee work plan," said Beaubier. "Each of these addresses critical risk reduction or carbon reduction and activities that bring long term benefits to our community and advance other RDN objectives."
For immediate implementation of the five priorities, additional staffing will be required to deliver the work plan starting in 2025. Most of the funding for the work will come from grants but Beaubier anticipates additional finances if program funding does not continue beyond 2026. The estimated cost to implement the work plan is $2.1 million over five years. Staff asked the proposed cost be included in the financial plan discussion for 2025.
"This proposed climate action plan maintain our existing momentum on climate action, provides the RDN and its residents with improved resources and knowledge across different services to mitigate risk, improves information available to inform future policy decisions, and directly supports our residents in taking personal action," said Beaubier.
Electoral Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) director Leanne Salter wanted more time to absorb and understand the elements of the report and asked the Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee draft recommendations be deferred to September 2024. However, the motion did not pass.
The board went on to endorse four motions that include preparing the recommended Climate Action Plan draft for the Sept. 24 board meeting; the resources required to implement the plan be added to the 2025-2029 financial plan; the strategic supports be built into the delivery of all recommended priorities, and existing plans and programs cited in the draft; and the current three-year major review cycle for the Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee-recommended climate action be revised to five years.
