Report for Simcoe County
Recommendation for Withdrawing from the ICLEI Framework and the Partners for Climate Protection Program
Recommendation for Withdrawing from the ICLEI Framework and the Partners for Climate Protection Program
Original Motion to Join ICLEI
Date: June 24, 2016
Agenda Item Number: C.11
Resolved that: Staff report no. 42-06-16 BOD regarding the NVCA Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan framework be received; and
Further that: The board of directors approve the development of the NVCA Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan as a high priority to achieve our mandate and strategic and business plan tools; and
Further that: The board of directors endorse the ICLEI framework for developing the NVCA Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, as well as the timelines for completion outlined in the staff report.
Purpose:
To recommend that Simcoe County withdraws from the voluntary ICLEI framework and its Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program due to concerns about high costs, increased debt load, extensive data collection, ethical concerns, impacts on the housing market, agriculture, and construction industry, and to prioritize energy security over GHG reduction targets. This recommendation emphasizes creating a locally driven environmental stewardship strategy that aligns with the community's values, priorities, and financial capabilities.
Background on the PCP Program:
The PCP program's five milestones involve detailed analyses of energy consumption and waste from all sectors and sources, initially taking at least 300 hours and repeating annually. According to the protocol for Milestone One, the municipality must measure energy consumption from all sources, record total electricity consumed by municipal lighting, track energy consumption of water and wastewater facilities, record fuel sources and emissions from purchased electricity, and document waste output from municipal properties.
Detailed audits are also required to identify and categorize waste materials, determine the organic carbon content in the waste stream, calculate methane potential of landfill waste, and assess the decay rate at landfill sites. Energy usage and emissions for all types of fleet vehicles, staff business travel, staff commuting, public transit fleet vehicles, streetlights, and traffic signals must also be reported.
Community sector data collection to meet PCP requirements includes emissions from all fuel sources and electricity for residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings. Transportation data involves fuel sales records, kilometers traveled per vehicle, and emissions from all vehicle types and transit systems. Industrial processes must account for non-energy-related emissions, while fugitive emissions from fossil fuel production and wastewater treatment are meticulously recorded. Energy consumption for public lighting must also be reported.
Ethical Concerns and Practical Implications:
Privacy and Trust: Extensive data collection infringes on the privacy of residents and staff, leading to distrust in local governance. Residents may be unaware that their daily energy and waste habits are being meticulously recorded.
Profit-Driven Motives: The primary purpose of this data collection often appears to be the marketing of green energy products, suggesting a profit-driven motive that may prioritize corporate gain over genuine environmental stewardship.
Data Security: Data managed by third-party companies like ICLEI raises concerns about data security and potential misuse, including risks of data breaches or exploitation for commercial purposes.
Binding Targets: Setting reduction targets through the PCP program entails a significant commitment that shapes all future municipal plans and decisions. Targets often align with global agreements and are difficult to reverse, binding future councils to established commitments.
High Costs and Debt Load: Milestone Three involves costly measures such as purchasing electric vehicles, conducting energy audits, and adopting green building standards, which can increase municipal debt and strain future budgets.
Impact on Local Needs: Municipalities may end up prioritizing long-term environmental goals over urgent local issues that directly impact residents' daily lives and well-being.
Housing Market and Crisis: High-cost mandates and green building standards can increase construction costs, delay development approval processes, and exacerbate the housing crisis by making housing less affordable and accessible.
Impact on Agriculture: Policies can limit severances, reduce livestock counts, and reduce available agricultural land, adversely impacting farmers' livelihoods and the local agricultural economy.
Impact on Construction Industry: Green building standards lack practicality, create unnecessary red tape, and complicate development approval processes, negatively impacting the construction industry and economic development.
Active Transportation: The PCP program's emphasis on active transportation is impractical in the Canadian climate and rural settings, where harsh weather conditions and long distances make such measures unsuitable for daily commuting.
Energy Security: Prioritizing energy security ensures stable and affordable energy supplies for residents and businesses, crucial for economic stability and community well-being.
Recommendation:
Resolved that: Simcoe County withdraws from the ICLEI framework and the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program for developing the NVCA Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.
Further that: The County initiates the development of a locally driven environmental stewardship strategy and action plan with the following steps:
Establish a Local Advisory Committee:
Form a committee including local residents, farmers, business owners, environmental experts, real estate professionals, construction industry representatives, and community leaders to guide the strategy development process.
Ensure diverse representation to capture the wide range of local perspectives.
Conduct Comprehensive Community Consultation:
Host public forums, town hall meetings, and workshops to gather input from residents and stakeholders.
Distribute surveys and questionnaires to collect data on community preferences for environmental programs and concerns.
Focus on Cost-Effective Environmental Protection:
Develop initiatives that directly target pollution reduction and environmental protection in a cost-effective manner, such as waste management improvements, water quality protection, and soil conservation efforts.
Avoid high-cost mandates such as green building standards, electric vehicle fleets, bike lanes, and extensive municipal building upgrades unless they are demonstrated to be necessary and beneficial for the local context.
Limit the use of high-cost consultants and research for climate change studies, favoring practical, locally applicable solutions.
Promote Holistic Rural Development:
Support policies that encourage sustainable growth in rural areas, protecting the character and viability of these communities.
Implement initiatives that enhance local economies, such as supporting family-owned farms, local businesses, and rural infrastructure improvements.
Ensure Transparency and Accountability:
Provide regular updates to the community on the progress and implementation of the climate strategy.
Commission independent reviews to assess the effectiveness and alignment of the strategy with local priorities.
Promote Energy Security and Economic Stability:
Prioritize local energy security initiatives that ensure stable, reliable, and affordable energy supplies for residents and businesses.
Support local environmental stewardship initiatives that enhance energy security without imposing significant economic burdens on residents.
Conduct economic impact assessments to ensure that the strategy supports local businesses and does not lead to detrimental economic effects.
Explore Legal and Legislative Measures:
Investigate legal obligations to formally withdraw from the voluntary ICLEI framework and the PCP program.
Work with provincial and federal representatives to secure support for a locally tailored environmental stewardship strategy.
Recommended Resolution:
Date: [Insert Date]
Agenda Item Number: [Insert Number]
Resolved that: Simcoe County withdraws from the voluntary ICLEI framework and the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program due to concerns about high costs, increased debt load, extensive data collection, privacy issues, impacts on the housing market, the impact on agricultural land and farmers, the impracticality of green building standards, the financial burden of high-cost research and consultants, and the recommendation to reduce population growth in rural areas in favor of cities. The County will develop a locally driven environmental stewardship strategy that prioritizes practical, cost-effective environmental protection, holistic rural development, economic stability, energy security, and local community values.
Further that: The County establishes a local advisory committee, conducts comprehensive community consultation, focuses on cost-effective environmental protection, promotes energy security and holistic rural development, ensures transparency and accountability, and explores legal measures to support a locally tailored environmental stewardship strategy.
By taking these steps, Simcoe County can develop an environmental stewardship strategy that respects local values, protects individual rights, ensures financial prudence, prioritizes energy security, promotes holistic rural development, and fosters practical environmental stewardship without the economic burden, increased debt load, and data privacy concerns associated with the ICLEI framework and the PCP program.
This recommendation prioritizes local consultation, practical environmental protection, financial responsibility, energy security, holistic rural development, and the well-being of Simcoe County's residents and economy, providing a clear path forward for developing a environmental stewardship strategy that truly reflects the community's values and priorities.
