There is increasing evidence that global climate change resulting from emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG’s) is causing, or will soon cause, significant environmental impact on the ecology of the planet.  Increases in energy efficient technologies and best management practices hold promise for reducing GHG’s and their adverse effect on the environment.  No one individual or organization can make a difference to global GHG emissions; individuals and organizations must all act in concert, and all individuals and organizations must contribute to mitigate this challenge.  The RDKB aspires to conduct daily operations central to the approach of reducing its carbon-footprint as much as possible and desires to foster a culture of sustainability that extends region-wide.

Carbon Neutral Kootenays Project

Many municipalities and regional districts have signed on to the Province of BC’s Climate Action Charter, thereby committing to reducing emissions and becoming carbon neutral in their operations by 2012. Carbon neutrality means that the operation of the local government will result in no net greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere and results from a combination of:

a.    Reduction Measures - reducing of GHG emissions from operations. This is accomplished through retrofits, efficiency initiatives, and behavioral change of staff; and

b.    Carbon Offsets - reductions made by others - elsewhere in the community or province - through registered and reviewed projects that reduce GHG emissions. Owners of these offset projects may sell these ‘reduction credits’ to other parties that are working to neutralize their carbon footprint.

The Carbon Neutral Kootenays Project began in March 2009, with the aid of the Sheltair Group and the Community Energy Association, was funded by the three RD’s and CBT and included three regional districts, 29 municipalities and five First Nation Groups.  This initiative aimed to help RD’s meet Climate Action Charter requirements and assist their member municipalities in meeting their own commitments by:

•    Compiling energy and GHG inventories for local government operations and First Nations - which includes the energy consumed and the related emissions from buildings, recreation centers, utility services, and vehicles operated by the municipality;

•    Developing Carbon Neutral Action Plans, in consultation with staff, for the operations of each of the three regional districts;

•    Developing a template of typical actions for member municipalities and First Nations to refine and customize to their unique needs;

•    Defining options for ongoing collaboration on implementing energy conservation and climate change actions in the region;

•    Evaluating the opportunities for an in-Kootenays carbon offset system, and;

•    Building capacity for climate action throughout the Kootenay region.

Related Documents
RDKB Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 2008
RDKB Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 2009
RDKB Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 2010
RDKB Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan

RDKB Related Policies
Conservation Opportunities
Green Building
Sustainable Initiatives

Related Websites
BC Climate Action Toolkit (Province of BC)
British Columbia Working Group and Network on Sustainability Education
Community Energy Association
Columbia Basin Trust