Thursday, September 28, 2023 – The Capital Regional District has released their latest community emissions data which shows Sooke community emissions have increased by 22.6% since 2007 while per capita emissions are declining from 5.1 tonnes to 3.9 tonnes.
Given a 70% population growth since 2007, the results are not surprising. While the District aspires to reduce emissions both corporately and community-wide by 50% by 2030, it is anticipated this topic will be discussed during Council’s strategic planning next month.
Looking at District operations, staff are working with Royal Roads University to inform a green fleet policy (or like approach) that will outline a projection of emission reduction within the District’s corporate fleet, through the current fleet’s lifecycle. This approach has the potential to help the District realize its corporate emissions goal while also unveiling cost-saving opportunities.
Given an estimated 79% of corporate emissions are a result of transportation, a carefully planned fleet strategy might just mean the aspirational corporate emissions goal is not quite so far off after all.
The results of the fleet study in partnership with Royal Roads University are expected next fall.
“While we are not on track to meet our community-wide emissions reductions, seeing a per capita decline, is moving in the right direction,” says District of Sooke CAO, Raechel Gray. “We’re in year one of the implementation of our Climate Action Plan and the support from the community, in particular through the Community Climate Action Seed funding program and the Active Routes to School Campaign, is building a foundation that is enhancing quality of life for citizens, so there is a lot of positive momentum growing in this area.”
Learn more – excerpts from “2007 & 2022 Energy & GHG Emissions Inventories:
Source: Capital Region District – Municipalities and Electoral Areas Report – 2007 Base Year and 2022 Reporting Year Energy & GHG Emissions Inventory
