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:

1. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/, see C.1
2. https://www.pembina.org/media-release/two-thirds-albertans-support-reaching-net-zero-emissions-2050 (page 14 in doc)
3. https://abacusdata.ca/clean-energy-technology-ambitious/
4. Calgary Climate Resilience Strategy, page 25, figure 2
5. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/northeast-calgary-hail-storm-insurance-1.5894145
6. https://globalnews.ca/news/4254206/2013-calgary-flood-insurance-changes/
7. https://www.enmax.com/AboutUsSite/Reports/ENMAX-2018-CR-REPORT-GRI.pdf
8. Climate Resilience Strategy, p. 47