Report to: General Committee                                                   Report Date: February 5, 2007

SUBJECT:                          Environmental Management Plan Implementation

PREPARED BY:               Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental Leadership

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Environmental Management Plan Implementation” dated February 5, 2007, be received;

AND THAT Markham Council endorse the Partners for Climate Protection Council Resolution to Join as follows:

WHEREAS the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has observed that global average surface temperature has increased over the 20th Century by about 0.6 degrees Celsius, that snow cover and ice extent have decreased, that global average sea level has risen and ocean heat content has increased;

WHEREAS the IPCC concludes in its 2001 Third Scientific Assessment that “there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities”;

WHEREAS the IPCC projects that global average temperature will increase between 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius by 2100 if current trends in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue;

WHEREAS federal and provincial costs related to extreme weather events in Canada increased from $500 million in 1980-1984 to $5.3 billion in 1995 – 1999, exclusive of municipal costs not yet measured on a national basis;

WHEREAS greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide), released from burning coal, oil and natural gas and from cutting trees and clearing land for agriculture and development, are the primary cause of climate change;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol in December 2002, committing Canada to reducing GHG emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012;

WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability have established Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) to provide a forum for municipal governments to share their knowledge and experience with other municipal governments on how to reduce GHG emissions;

WHEREAS over 130 municipal governments across Canada representing more than 60 per cent of the population have already committed to reducing corporate and community GHG emissions through PCP;

WHEREAS PCP participants commit to working towards reducing GHG emissions in municipal operations and throughout the community within ten years of joining the PCP initiative, based on the outcome of Milestone One of the PCP Milestone Framework;

WHEREAS PCP is based on a five-milestone framework that includes completing GHG and energy use inventories and forecasts for community and corporate sectors, setting a GHG reduction target, developing and implementing a local action plan and monitoring the plan; and

WHEREAS municipal investments in building retrofits, community energy systems, water conservation, renewable energy technologies, waste reduction, landfill gas capture, fleet management and public transit reduce operating costs, help maintain community services, protect public health and contribute to sustainable community development while cutting GHG emissions contributing to climate change;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Markham communicate to FCM its support for PCP and its interest in participating in PCP;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Town of Markham Council appoint the following:

a)      Mayor Frank Scarpitti

b)      Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental Leadership

to oversee implementation of the PCP Milestones and be the points of contact for PCP within the municipality;

AND THAT funding be approved to retain a consultant to undertake Milestone One of the Partners for Climate Protection Milestones to develop a community and corporate greenhouse gas inventory from the Environmental Management Plan account number 077-5399-6245-005, to an upset limit of $20,000;

AND THAT staff report back on progress to date and further recommendations on implementing the EMP;

AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s endorsement of the Environmental Management Plan’s recommendation to undertake the FCM and ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Resolution to Join in order to proceed with implementing the PCP Milestones. The PCP Milestones framework was developed for use by municipal governments to undertake initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through the PCP Milestone Framework, starting with Milestone One, municipalities determine a base year with reliable data and establish a GHG reduction goal. Its ultimate goal is to reduce GHG emissions from municipal operations and community-wide GHG emissions and to reach both these targets within ten years of a municipal government joining the program.

Funding to begin implementing Milestone One of the PCP Milestones is recommended from the budget approved for the Environmental Management Plan.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The financial considerations within this report are that funding be approved to retain a consultant to undertake Milestone One of the Partners for Climate Protection Milestones from the Environmental Management Plan account 077-5399-6245-005, to an upset limit of $20,000 (see Financial Template attached as Appendix 1).

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s approval of the recommendation within the Environmental Management Plan to seek Council’s endorsement of the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection Council Resolution to Join to move forward with the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Milestones. In addition, this report seeks Council’s endorsement to hire a consultant in order to undertake Milestone One, completing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and energy use inventories, of the Partners for Climate Protection process.

BACKGROUND:

In 2004, Council approved $100,000 for an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to help the Town prioritize environmental goals and commitments, promote interdepartmental collaboration and coordinate environmental initiatives and projects. A staff technical advisory committee (TAC) made up of representatives from each commission, was established to oversee the selection of the consultant and provide input into the EMP study process.

In 2005, CH2M Hill was retained to develop the EMP. The consultant held a workshop and conducted a survey with staff and members of Council, worked with the staff TAC and developed the EMP based on their experiences with other municipalities and the experiences of six benchmarking communities that helped to guide the EMP process.

In January 2006, CH2M Hill presented the TAC with a draft EMP report for review and comment. The TAC provided comments and a final report was prepared and presented in April 2006.

In June 2006, Markham Council received the EMP and directed staff to report back on progress to date and further recommendations around the implementation of the EMP.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

EMP Implementation

The EMP will set up the framework for coordinating and directing municipal actions and a reporting process to assist in achieving new and advanced municipal environmental practises in the future.

The following environmental priority “themes” were established within the EMP:

•         Air

•         Land and Biodiversity

•         Water

•         Resources and People

Within these themes are recommended priority actions or early success opportunities, to provide an implementation strategy for the Town.

Endorse the PCP Council Resolution to Join and complete PCP Milestones

The first air priority recommended within the EMP is for the Town to complete the milestones under the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection agreement. The Town of Markham is currently a member of the PCP, however, has not, to date, moved forward on implementing the program. By endorsing the PCP Council Resolution to Join, the Town of Markham can begin to implement the PCP Milestones.

The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) is a framework developed for use by municipal governments to undertake initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through the PCP Milestone Framework, starting with Milestone One, municipalities determine a base year with reliable data and establish a GHG reduction goal. Its ultimate goal is to reduce GHG emissions from municipal operations and community-wide GHG emissions and to reach both these targets within ten years of a municipal government joining the program.

What is Partners for Climate Protection?

The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program is a network of more than 135 Canadian municipal governments who have committed to reducing greenhouse gases and acting on climate change. PCP is the Canadian component of ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) network that comprises more than 600 communities world wide making the same efforts.

PCP is a partnership between the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. PCP receives financial support from the Green Municipal Fund as part of the Capacity Building Program.

The PCP Milestone Framework

PCP is based on a five milestone framework used to guide municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The five milestone process is a performance-based model which remains flexible; milestones do not need to be completed in sequential order.  Each milestone provides an opportunity for municipal capacity building.

The PCP Milestones guide municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and include:

·                    Creating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast

·                    Setting an emissions reductions plan

·                    Developing a local action plan

·                    Implementing the local action plan or a set of activities

·                    Monitoring progress and reporting results

Undertaking Milestone One, creating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast, has been undertaken by many Ontario municipalities, including the Cities of Burlington, Richmond Hill and Pickering. A greenhouse gas inventory brings together data on community and municipal energy use and solid waste generation in order to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a given year. The forecast projects future emissions based on assumptions about population, economic growth and fuel mix.

The inventory can be used to document energy consumption and waste composition data, and to calculate the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. An emissions inventory consists of:

1. A community inventory: residential, institutional, commercial, industrial, transportation, and solid waste sectors.

2. A corporate inventory: municipal government facilities and operations, including buildings, street lighting, water and wastewater treatment, municipal fleet and corporate and/or community solid waste.

The greenhouse gas inventory is developed by collecting data on:

Electricity and fossil fuel energy use;

Transportation (such as vehicle kilometres travelled, fleet composition and fuel(s) consumed); and

The quantity and composition of waste and disposal methods.

A baseline year would be established during the completion of the GHG inventory in Milestone One.  The baseline year will serve as a basis for setting an emissions reduction target and act as a point of comparison for the future. Once a baseline year has been established, Council can determine their recommended reduction target and plan for that target within the ten year timeframe suggested by the PCP process.

Greenhouse gases measured

The inventory tracks three principal greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), expressed as a CO2 equivalent (eCO2). Typically, these greenhouse gases are generated from:

Burning fossil fuels to light, heat, cool and ventilate buildings, homes and offices, and to run municipal operations, industrial processes and vehicles; and

Decomposing organic waste in landfills.

Why develop an inventory?

Municipal governments have an important contribution to make to climate protection. Up to half of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (350 million tonnes) are under the direct or indirect control or influence of municipal governments. By 2012, communities could cut GHG emissions by 20 to 50 Mt from municipal operations and community-wide initiatives with investments in environmental infrastructure and sustainable transportation infrastructure. Municipal governments can reduce emissions through:

land-use, energy, and transportation planning;

infrastructure design;

green procurement;

building retrofits;

water conservation;

solid waste diversion; and

renewable energy.

An inventory can be used as a management tool to:

Save money: The inventory helps track dollars spent on energy. What can be measured can be managed. An inventory can reveal opportunities for investment in energy efficiency improvements.

Provide valuable information: An emissions inventory is a useful first step in the development of a Local Action Plan. Identifying significant sources of GHG emissions will help a municipality implement appropriate emissions reduction measures and develop an effective Local Action Plan.

Provide a valuable reference point: Selecting a baseline year, and completing an emissions inventory for that year, is essential to track reductions in GHG emissions.

Participate in carbon trading: A verifiable greenhouse gas inventory is required before participating in the emerging carbon trading market.

The Town of Markham is already engaged in a number of initiatives that represent important opportunities for reducing GHG, including the initiatives underway in the Markham Energy Conservation Office. In addition, the PCP Milestones will inform the Energy and Environmental Management Software (EEMS) within the Markham Energy Conservation Office and allow Markham to use the data for other emissions analysis.

Project Management

The Milestone One process typically involves retaining a consultant or ICLEI staff to undertake the emissions inventory and forecast which is then used to set an emissions reductions plan, Milestone Two and develop a local action plan, Milestone Three. The PCP process is then continuously improved.

Staff recommends retaining a consultant to undertake Milestone One with an upset limit of $20,000, to be funded from the Environmental Management Plan account 077-5399-6245-005. Implementing this priority project will be an early success for the Town and represents an achievable goal to improve air quality and reduce Markham’s climate change impacts.

The project will be managed by Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental Leadership. As needed, a cross-functional staff team will be consulted to ensure optimal discussion and cooperation around the Milestone framework. Staff will report back to Council as needed to make recommendations around GHG reduction targets and next steps.

CONCLUSION:

The EMP is the Town’s environmental road map for the future. It will set up the framework for coordinating and directing municipal actions and a reporting process to assist in achieving new and advanced municipal environmental practises in the future. To successfully move forward with implementing the EMP, a cooperative approach is imperative by all Commissions of the Corporation to participate, be actively involved and contribute to this important strategic initiative throughout its implementation.

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE: (external link)

Attached as Appendix 1.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The EMP works to achieve the community vision and corporate goals around environmental focus established in the Town of Markham’s strategic plan, Engage 21st Century Markham.

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

N/A

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The EMP works to achieve the community vision and corporate goals around environmental focus established in the Town of Markham’s strategic plan, Engage 21st Century Markham. In addition, the EMP will help inform Markham’s strategic planning process by providing priority environmental initiatives, performance measures, monitoring and reporting.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

N/A

RECOMMENDED

BY:                                ________________________          ________________________

Allan Seabrooke, Director,                 Jim Sales, Commissioner,                      Strategic Services                                      Community & Fire Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix 1 – Financial Template