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SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW (SCC)CONFÉRENCE ET SALON PROFESSIONNEL SUR LES COLLECTIVITÉS DURABLES (CCD)
WHAT I LEARNED AT THE SCCFebruary 8-10, 2012
DJ/MM/YA@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni OTTAWA 2012
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
The ContextMunicipalities control:• >50% of public infrastructure• 44% of GHG emissions• 8% of every tax dollar
Building the Green Economy:
Sustainable Prosperity • The global green economy: $4 trillion • Canada’s green technology market:• X $2.3 billion in 2010• X $3.7 billion by 2014
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Building the Green Economy
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy • Arctic sea ice loss• Extreme weather events• Rising insurance costs• Pressure on biodiversity• Cost to Canada in 2050: $43 billion
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Urban densities mean:• A global hub for capital and innovation• Fewer development pressures on sensitive
areas• Greater energy efficiency• A need for transportation
infrastructure
Building the Green Economy
Toronto Board of Trade
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Local balance of payments: • Population
400,000• Annual energy bill
$1.7 billion• Percentage that leaves
the region 70%
• Responses to municipal solar program (1 month)1,600
Building the Green Economy
Halifax Regional Municipality
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
SeminarSustainable Local Economic Development• Drayton Valley bio-industrial park diversifies local
economy• Development in Toronto combines economic,
environmental gains• Cowichan Valley forms Clean Technology Council
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Workshop: Speed Dating for CapitalGreen Municipal Fund: The story so far…
• Original federal endowment $550 million
• Projects funded 875
• Participating communities 434
• Jobs created32,000
• GDP contribution$3.7 billion
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Advanced Training (Part 1): Partners for Climate Protection • Five-milestone program• Urgent need to reduce
emissions• Feasible targets• Impact of regulation• Recommended 10-year
goals:• 6% of community emissions• 20% of corporate emissions
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Advanced Training (Part 2): Partners for Climate Protection Putting plans into practice:• Integrate with wider community
plans• Link climate to local issues• Start with what cities can control• Provide incentives• Bring third parties together• Focus on education and
awareness
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Industry Exchange: Environmental Technology Verification Program• Environment Canada: Decision support
tools• Enviro-accès: Demand and funding for
anaerobic digestion technology• Walkerton Centre:
Small systems, First Nations, operator training
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Plenary: Placemaking – Soul of the Community and Beyond• Does a sense of place still matter?• What attaches us to place?• Why does that sense of attachment matter?• GDP grew faster in communities
with more attached residents
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Opportunities for municipalities to collaborate with First Nations
• 30-40% of Aboriginal communities must boil their water
• Joint infrastructure for neighhbouring communities
Seminar: Water and Wastewater Management in Small Communities
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Workshop: Removing the Barriers to Brownfield Redevelopment
• Brownfield action plans• Site characterization• Remedial plans• Site remediation• Funding for “brightfield” projects
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Industry Exchange: Financing Home Energy Efficiency• Retrofits complete on <10% of the housing
stock• Defining efficiency measures as local
improvements• Vancouver home energy loans• Nelson Hydro energy retrofits
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Primary mechanisms for revitalization: Changes in form and transportation infrastructure
• High-density buildings deliver more municipal revenue• Changes in planning philosophy bring new industries,
new attitudes
Plenary
Revitalizing Low-Density Communities
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Varennes’ new library: Canada’s first public net-zero energy building
• Integrated design strategy• Grants: $6.8 million• Community fundraising: >$1 million
Workshop: Net-Zero Buildings
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Seminar: Small Communities, Powerful Changes• Dawson Creek: Solar hot water and
electricity, green vehicles, energy-efficient street lights, anti-idling policy
• County of Wellington: >1.3 million trees• Revelstoke: Citizen participation in a 20-
year planning exercise
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Advanced Training (Part 1): Implementing Sustainable Community Plans
Five key elements:• Partner engagement• Community-wide action• Oversight• Monitoring• Communications
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Ingredients of a successful community partnership:• Bringing stakeholders together• Painting a picture of new possibilities• Fostering deeper relationships built on
communication, trust
Advanced Training (Part 2): Implementing Sustainable Community Plans
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Municipal tools to protect biodiversity:• Land use/urban planning• Licencing and regulation• Facilitation• Advocacy and leadership• Community service delivery
Industry Exchange: Nature’s Place in Sustainable Communities
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• More economic activity with less energy• More energy with less carbon• Municipal role in smart grid development• New transportation systems• More efficient buildings
Plenary: Kicking the Fossil Fuel Habit
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Barriers to local food sustainability:• Perceived lack of supply• Limited focus on fruits and vegetables• Strong dependence on larger food
companies• Lack of interest from health care
institutions
Workshop: Building the Business Case for Regional Food Systems
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Increased risk of severe weather hazards• Limitations on insurance payouts• Ecosystem integrity• Citizen awareness and participation• Protecting resources, local economic
development
Industry Exchange: Climate Change Adaptation
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Improved energy efficiency• Increased home comfort• Hundreds of dollars in energy savings per
housing unit• Jobs for disadvantaged youth
Seminar: Energy Poverty, Housing Retrofits and Youth
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Public infrastructure operated by municipalities: >50%
• Infrastructure deficit, 2006: $123 billion• Canadian municipalities’ reliance on
property tax: Excessive• Infrastructure programming: Short-term
and unpredictable
Workshop: Infrastructure Financing
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Aspects of resilience through 2060:• How should we grow?• How will we get around?• How efficient will our buildings be?• How will energy be supplied?• How will we manage water and waste?• How will we feed ourselves?
Industry Exchange: Integrating Land Use, Landscape, Climate, and Infrastructure
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Study ToursHosted by the City of Ottawa• Wastewater treatment
facility (ROPEC)• Great Canadian Theatre
Company• Beaver BarracksAdditional Tours• Ottawa Convention Centre• FCM "Walking the Talk”
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Trade Show• 52 booths • Sustainability professionals from all
sectors discuss and share best practices
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• High level of self-government• Independent taxation powers• Focus on equality, poverty, social exclusion• Political support, homebuilder training for
energy-efficient construction• Climate change is accepted and addressed;
little debate on whether action is necessary
Plenary: Nordic Leaders’ Panel
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Local energy systems, local renewables• Amenable to higher densities, mixed uses• Better energy performance• Reduced carbon footprints• Lower energy costs• District energy the “game-changer”
Seminar: Implementing Integrated Community Energy Solutions
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Benefits of sustainable procurement:• Eco-efficiency• Brand enhancement• Financial ROI• Reduced risk• Employee engagement• Strategic supplier relationships
Advanced Training (Part 1): Sustainable Municipal Procurement
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
Procurement and corporate social responsibility:• What market intelligence do you gather?• What resources do you consume that
could be conserved?• What are your risks over the next three to
five years?
Advanced Training (Part 2): Sustainable Municipal Procurement
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• ICLEI-FCM joint initiative since the mid-1990s
• Municipalities vulnerable to rising temperature, extreme weather, sea level rise
• Changing Climate, Changing Communities guide: www.iclei.org/canada
Industry Exchange: Adaptation Initiative ― Cities Working Together
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Homer-Dixon: With rapid change, “we shouldn’t be surprised by surprise”
• “Extraordinary opportunities” in economic transition
• Liveable, resilient communities• General purpose technology
Plenary: Sustainable Communities and the GPT Transition
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Built environment and healthy living• From research to tools, policies, and
processes• Healthy, walkable streets• Reclaiming a community’s energy future
Seminar: Public Health Opportunities in the Green Economy
OTTAWA 2012@FCM_online #SCC2012 #CDNmuni
• Derived demand: Users don’t think of transportation when deciding where to live, work, go to school, or shop
• 50% of public transit services have some form of public-private partnership
Seminar: Public-Private Partnerships: Making it Work in the Transportation Sector