The city is hosting three virtual public consultation sessions next week to gather feedback on the city’s Climate Action Plan before it goes back to council for final approval.

The 90 page plan looks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Kamloops by 80% over 2007 levels by 2050. The plan, as it stands right now, has action items to achieve a 70% reduction with the remaining 10% to be found throughout the course of the 29 year timeline.

Speaking on NL Newsday, Sustainability Services Supervisor Glen Cheetham says it looks to tackle the three main sources of emissions.

“We know that there are three key sources of emissions in Kamloops. Transportation at 66% which is primarily from using gas and diesel to power our cars. Next is homes and buildings at 29% which is primarily from using natural gas for space and water heating. And finally waste at 5% which is from the decomposition of organic matter in our landfill.”

Cheetham says with respect to transportation there are two approaches with the first goal to reduce people’s reliance on vehicles and one to do that is to improve the city’s active transportation infrastructure. “So there’s already some work underway to complete the links on either end of the X’get’tem’ Trail to help create a continuous route from the top of Summit Drive right down to the Lansdowne transit exchange. And so by providing those networks people have a safer option to use other modes of transportation and perhaps combine them with things like our transit system.” He says the other part of reducing the reliance on gas powered vehicles is to help people to make the transition to electric vehicles.

Sustainability Program Coordinator Josie Howitt says another way to limit emissions is to make sure that all of our core services and daily needs are close to people’s homes to improve the city’s walkability. “The density that is occurring right now in downtown is contributing towards those goals and building within existing neighbourhoods and looking for opportunities to see does this place need a bit more of a commercial centre that brings that to an existing neighbourhood. Those are key ways that we we’ll achieve those emissions reductions.”

The plan also looks at how to make sure new home builds are being done with energy efficiency in mind and also helping to incentivize people to retrofit existing homes to increase efficiency. Cheetham says that is one of the greatest opportunities but also comes with a fair amount of challenge.

“We’re fortunate right now cause we do have some good programming and incentives available, but ultimately we need to help households in Kamloops to be able to integrate energy efficiency into their home renovation plans. That really is two fold. One is to improve the thermal performance is what we call it. Better insulation, making sure our homes are leaking less. And the other piece is just to try to use more low carbon fuels or energy systems to heat and cool our houses as well as our water.”

Virtual engagement sessions will be hosted via Zoom on the following dates (registration not required):

• Tuesday, May 4, 5:00–6:30 pm
• Wednesday, May 5, 6:00–7:30 pm
• Thursday, May 6, 12:00–1:00 pm

Links to participate will be available on the Let’s Talk Community Climate Action Plan web page. An engagement package that summarizes some of the key information from the larger draft CCAP document is also available for download as a reference guide for participants.

Listen to the entire interview with Cheetham and Howitt below: