City of Nanaimo recognized for climate action work

Nanaimo 1 of 122 local governments worldwide that received an A score in 2022 from the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP)

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed November 29, 2022 11:30 AM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo has been recognized by the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of 122 local governments across the globe taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency, despite the pressures of a challenging global economic situation. CDP is a global non-profit that runs an environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Designed to encourage and support local governments to ramp up their climate action and ambition, the CDP’s Cities A List is based on environmental data disclosed by local governments to the CDP-ICLEI Track, the world’s leading climate reporting platform.

A clear momentum in local climate disclosure and action is building – for the first time, over 1,000 local governments (1,002 in total) received a rating for their climate action from CDP in 2022, an increase from the 965 local governments rated in 2021. This is the first time the City of Nanaimo has reported its climate targets and actions with CDP.

In 2022, only 12 per cent of local governments received an A score. To score an A, among other actions, a local government must publicly disclose their climate goals and actions, have a community-wide emissions inventory, and publish a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards.

A List local governments are demonstrating their climate leadership through concerted and effective action, just as national governments have been asked to do at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (commonly referred to as COP27) this year. They are taking at least twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A List local governments. The City of Nanaimo and the other A List cities are also celebrated for showing that urgent and impactful climate action - from ambitious emissions reduction targets to building resilience against climate change - is achievable at a local level, and in places with different climate realities and priorities.

Nanaimo has set community-wide emissions reduction targets to be 50 to 58 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030, and 94 to 107 per cent below 2010 levels by 2050. The City has implemented policies and programs related to building energy efficiency and emissions reduction, active transportation and waste reduction and reuse. Examples include adopting the BC Energy Step Code for new buildings, providing home energy efficiency rebates to homeowners, requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new developments, adding active transportation routes, and participating in the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative.

The City also recognizes the need to be prepared for climate change impacts, such as extreme heat, wildfire and flooding and has begun implementing its Climate Change Resilience Strategy. For example, the newly adopted City Plan includes development regulations for areas vulnerable to sea level rise and wildfire. Through these actions, the City is working towards doing its part in mitigating climate change as well as building resilience to current and future climate change impacts.

Link to Strategic Plan: By being recognized as global leader in climate action the City is meeting its' strategic priority to "take a leadership role and focus on our environmental impact and climate change contributions in our decision making and regional participation".

Key Points

Nanaimo is one of 122 local governments in the world and one of 49 in North America to receive a top score on climate action from the environmental impact non-profit, Climate Disclosure Project (CDP).
This is the first time the City of Nanaimo has reported its climate targets and actions with CDP.
To score an A, a local government must publicly disclose their climate goals and actions, have a community-wide emissions inventory, have published a climate action plan, identified climate related hazards and have a climate adaptation plan.

Quotes

"Congratulations to Nanaimo for earning a spot on the CDP's Cities A List — one of 49 cities and counties in North America to make the list in 2022. From mitigating carbon emissions in line with science, to building resilience against floods, drought and other climate hazards, to centering marginalized and vulnerable communities in their response, A List local governments are demonstrating best-practice environmental action. Nanaimo is in the vanguard of cities and counties leading the way toward a climate-safe future."

Katie Walsh

Head of Cities, States, Regions and Public Authorities

CDP North America

"Being recognized as an A list community is a significant acknowledgement of Council’s commitment and efforts towards the City’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and climate resilience goals. The City has implemented programs and policies to help reduce community greenhouse gas emissions and support our community in adapting to climate change impacts. Through the CDP reporting we are able to openly share those actions and learn how we compare to other global municipalities."

Leonard Krog

Mayor

City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

The City of Nanaimo and the District of Saanich are the only two local governments in B.C. that are named on the CDP's 2022 Cities A List.
Only 12% of the local governments were rated in 2022 received an A score.
Nearly 20,000 organizations around the world disclosed data through CDP in 2022, including more than 18,700 companies worth 50% of global market capitalization, and over 1,100 cities, states and regions.

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Communications

City of Nanaimo

250-754-4251

Media.Requests@nanaimo.ca

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