Fast & Fair Climate Action: Background, Motivations, and Positions
The Calgary Climate Hub has been active this election cycle advocating for Fast & Fair Climate Action. What do we mean by "Fast & Fair"? Read on to find out, or download this handy one-pager.
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BACKGROUND: FAST
- Net-zero emissions by 2050 is the bare minimum target for limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as outlined by IPCC [1]
- 68% of Calgarians either support or strongly support targeting net-zero by 2050 [2]
- 45% of Albertans think demand for oil will decline as a net result of global economic growth and net-zero targets around the world. Only 19% think oil demand will rise.[3] Albertans recognize growth in oil production can’t continue to fuel our economic growth
- Calgary’s direct emissions come from carbonized electricity (42%), transport fuels (33%), fossil (natural) gas (24%) and waste (1%) [4]
MOTIVATIONS: FAIR
Resilient Cost of Living
- Calgarians need a cost of living which is resilient to dramatic changes to the cost of carbonized energy (through decreased use/exposure to carbonized energy)
- Extreme weather events, such as the June 2020 hailstorm and 2013 flood cost billions directly and increase the cost/risk of insurance over time [5,6]
Poverty and Equity
- The effects of climate change, including severe weather events, migration from affected areas, and new diseases, disproportionately affect racialized and marginalized populations
- Calgarians deserve a city that doesn’t leave already vulnerable people vulnerable to further negative outcomes from climate change
- Calgarians need a 15-minute city with whole neighbourhoods and good transit that allows non-drivers access to the same services as drivers
Economic Resilience and Competitiveness
- Calgarians need an economy that is resilient to dramatic changes in the economic viability of the oil and gas sector
- Increasingly, investors are targeting net-zero emissions and need low carbon places to operate. Calgary’s carbon footprint will make it an expensive place to do business
Positions
- Amend Climate Resilience Strategy to target net-zero by 2050
- Amend Sustainable Building Policy to require all new publicly owned buildings to be net-zero
- Pass bylaw to allow use of Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP), a form of PACE financing
- Completion of the Green Line, including the portion from Eau Claire to 16th Ave
- ENMAX to adopt targets of:
- Achieve 50% of 2016 emissions [7](1.3 million tonnes/year) by 2030
- Achieve 10% of 2016 emissions (0.26 million tonnes/year) by 2040
- Achieve net-zero by 2050 (Already committed)
- Increased access and safety for active transportation modes such as walking and biking
- Transit that is affordable, accessible, convenient and connected
- Increased access and support for electric vehicle adoption and charging
- System level support for at home charging
- Support for alternatives to at home charging
- Double Calgary’s tree canopy to from 8.3%[8]to 16%
Sources:
- https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/, see C.1
- https://www.pembina.org/media-release/two-thirds-albertans-support-reaching-net-zero-emissions-2050 (page 14 in doc)
- https://abacusdata.ca/clean-energy-technology-ambitious/
- Calgary Climate Resilience Strategy, page 25, figure 2
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/northeast-calgary-hail-storm-insurance-1.5894145
- https://globalnews.ca/news/4254206/2013-calgary-flood-insurance-changes/
- https://www.enmax.com/AboutUsSite/Reports/ENMAX-2018-CR-REPORT-GRI.pdf
- Climate Resilience Strategy, p. 47
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