In 2023, the CVRD Board approved an updated Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan that aligns greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets with Provincial and Federal targets.
To prevent the worse impacts of climate change, the scientific community is unequivocal that it is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by reducing GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Failing to do so will result in the potentially irreversible degradation of the natural systems that support life on Earth, cause countless deaths, and cost societies around the globe trillions of dollars. In response to these unprecedented challenges, the CVRD Board has committed to align with global emissions reduction targets and to eliminate fossil fuels in its operations and facilities.
The CVRD Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan charts a pathway to net zero corporate emissions by 2050. Details on work currently underway can be found below.
The Comox Valley Sports Centre and Aquatic Centre account for 60 per cent of CVRD operational emissions and produce 850,000 kilograms of greenhouse gases every year. The CVRD is currently investigating how to eliminate those emissions and increase comfort and quality for users. A decarbonization study is underway to guide efforts to transition away from burning natural gas and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions at those facilities.
Other actions underway include:
- Transition CVRD vehicles from internal combustion engines to electric
- Remove natural gas from CVRD facilities and install heat pumps and waste heat recovery systems
- Increase the energy efficiency of CVRD-owned buildings
- Install solar power to generate renewable energy
- Implement an Internal Cost of Carbon to account for the environmental cost of burning fossil fuel
- Investigate the viability of regional district energy systems
- Quantify the carbon sequestration potential of local forests, ocean areas, and soil
This work will be completed alongside initiatives in the Comox Valley Community Climate Action Strategy, which is currently under development.