The City of Salmon Arm is seeing continued success with efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in turn receiving funding for local climate initiatives.
At the June 24 city council meeting, senior planner Chris Larson provided a report on the city's 2023 submission for the B.C. government's Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) introduced in 2022, replacing the former Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP). The submission is required of the city to receive grant money through the program, which in 2024 is expected to be around $147,000.
Corporate GHG emissions for 2023 amounted to 1,422.7 tons, which Larson said was the third lowest emissions total to date. A graph shared by Larson of annual city GHG emissions totals dated back to 2012, when 1,994 tons was recorded.
In 2008, the City of Salmon Arm was among a majority of local governments that became voluntary signatories of the BC Climate Action Charter rolled out under then Premier Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal government. In letters sent to local governments in 2007, Campbell and then Community Services Minister Ida Chong explained the Charter was introduced to "ensure all levels of government lead the way in becoming carbon neutral in their operations."
Larson noted the city is seeing a "clear downward trend" in emissions resulting from municipal activities.
"This general reduction in emissions which initiated in 2020, can be directly attributed to the organic waste diversion program," said Larson. Other contributing factors include the conversion of street and facility lighting to LED lights, as well as the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles to the city's fleet.
"Conversely, areas that need work include the rec centre and arena buildings, which continue to be the city’s largest producers, as well as the operation of heavy equipment," said Larson.
Asked about the purchase of carbon offsets, Larson explained the city opted instead to put money raised through CARIP and LGCAP towards "local projects that might have local impacts."
Asked about the city's anticipated Climate Action Plan, city engineering and public works director Rob Niewenhuizen explained staff is currently working on the renewal of the city's curbside solid waste collection program.
"So the RFP is being completed and going out. Once that’s complete, then they’ll start working on the Climate Action Plan," said Niewenhuizen, who expected work on the plan to begin sometime over the summer.
Mayor Alan Harrison estimated corporate emissions amounts to about 15 per cent of overall emissions in Salmon Arm. He then shared last year's emissions totals for Canada, the province and B.C. municipalities. He said for Canada, emissions totalled 548-million tons. For B.C., 64 million; Vancouver 28,048 tons; Kelowna, 8,260; Kamloops, 8,052; Nanaimo, 5,025; Vernon, 3,354; Penticton, 1,952; and Nelson, 1,198.
"So my conclusion is the more people you have the more emissions you have," said Harrison. "And our emissions - we’re all trying to lessen emissions, every community is. Our emissions I would say are certainly in line with other community’s emissions. Perhaps even less… For me that was a bit of peace of mind because I wanted to know how we sat in comparison to others."
